Environmental aspects
Tallinna Vesi’s activity affects to a greater or lesser extent the quality of life and surrounding environment of Tallinners. As a responsible company we aim to operate in an environmentally friendly manner and reduce any adverse effect on the environment.
For that we have identified the aspects of the operation that cause or may cause the most significant changes in the surrounding environment. Based on the significance of those aspects, the environmental objectives of the Company have been set and necessary control mechanisms established to avoid or mitigate any adverse environmental impacts. The delivery of these objectives/tasks is regularly being monitored.
An overview of the environmental efficiency of AS Tallinna Vesi is provided in the Environmental Report, which is available here.
The most significant environmental aspects and impacts of AS Tallinna Vesi include:
- The preservation of sanitary protection zones protects drinking water sources and the natural environment, positively affecting biodiversity in and around Lake Ülemiste.
- Using thermal energy produced from biogas that has been generated through sewage sludge fermentation reduces our ecological footprint and dependence on heat produced from non-renewable sources.
- Construction waste has low reuse potential, is bulky, and causes damage to soil.
- Using electric power contaminates the environment, causes air pollution, and accelerates the depletion of fossil fuels.
- Water extraction and treatment involve energy and chemical costs and environmental impacts.
- Increased own consumption of water is accompanied by a greater need for water treatment, which involves higher resource usage and environmental impacts.
- The use of chlorine in water treatment involves a risk of leakage and environmental pollution.
- Providing compliant clean drinking water to consumers enables them to choose tap water over bottled water, which reduces impacts related to the use of disposable plastic bottles.
- Discharging wastewater into the sea can cause harmful pollutants to enter the marine environment.
- By reusing and recycling sewage sludge, we reduce the amount of waste that is deposited in landfills.
- Discharging partially treated and untreated sewage into the environment pollutes the environment and has a negative impact on the marine environment and marine life.