The Water Protection Association of the River Kokemäenjoki (KVVY)
The Water Protection Association of the River Kokemäenjoki (Kokemäejoen vesistön vesiensuojeluyhdistys – KVVY) is one of the 11 regional water protection associations in Finland. The KVVY is a non-profit association, which promotes water protection in the water basin of two rivers, the River Kokemäenjoki and the River Karvianjoki. All municipalities and most of the interest groups in the area of operation are members of the association. The main intention is to support water and environmental protection. Funding is based mainly on the environmental surveys and the laboratory and the research services.
The Water Protection Association of the River Kokemäenjoki (KVVY) is one of the 11 regional water protection associations in Finland. Their main intention is to promote water and environmental protection work in collaboration with authorities from the national, regional and municipality levels and other partners. The operations area and the network of experts in the regional water protection associations cover almost the whole of Finland. The regional water protection associations and their laboratories produce a huge amount of research data about the condition of the environment and the water bodies. This data is reported and utilized by the Federation of Water Protection Associations and the member associations in their operations. The KVVY and other regional associations represent a broad-based and varied coalition of those who use water, such as municipalities, industry, advisory organizations, water cooperatives, owners of water areas, protection associations as well as other interest groups related to the environment.
The KVVY, founded in 1961, is a non-profit association that fosters water protection in the water basin of two rivers: the River Kokemäenjoki and the River Karvianjoki. All municipalities and most of the interest groups in the area of operations are members of the association. Offices are located in the cities of Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Pori, Rauma and Sastamala. The KVVY’s annual turnover is about 6 million euros and it has approximately 100 employees. Funding is based mainly on the environmental surveys and the laboratory and the research services. The KVVY does not get any financial support from the government or other authorities. Membership fees (< 2% of the annual turnover) are used for advisement and non-profit projects.
Research services
- Research of water systems, load estimations and planning of restoration measures
- Biological surveys of fish stocks, bottom fauna and water plants
- Wastewater treatment plant monitoring and treatment process optimization
- Environmental permit applications and monitoring programs for the operators
- Assessment of the operators impact on the water body based on the surveys made
- Certified sampling services
Laboratory services
- Water analysis (natural water bodies, ground water, wastewater etc.)
- Food chemistry and microbiology
- Home and environmental health surveys
- Toxicity surveys
- Waste utilization and recycling surveys
KVVY is a testing laboratory T064 accreditated by FINAS, Finnish Accreditation Service. Accreditation requirement is the standard SFS-EN ISO /IEC 17025. The authorities of the Finland´s national accreditation body FINAS has assessed and determined the competence of the Quality system and the accreditated methods (scope https://www.finas.fi/toimijat/Sivut/default.aspx#k=t064 ) used in KVVY testing laboratory.