Viemä

Viemä is a Finnish term that translates to "sewer" or "drainage" in English. It refers to the underground network of pipes and structures designed to collect and transport wastewater and surface runoff away from urban areas and individual buildings. The primary purpose of a viemä system is to manage human waste, industrial discharge, and rainwater to protect public health and prevent environmental pollution.

Finnish municipalities are responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of public viemä systems. These systems typically consist of two main components: the foul sewer, which carries domestic and industrial wastewater, and the storm sewer, which carries rainwater and snowmelt. In some cases, these are combined into a single system, though separate systems are generally preferred to reduce the volume of wastewater treated.

The operation of a viemä system involves gravity flow, with pipes laid at a specific gradient to ensure that wastewater moves towards treatment plants. In areas where gravity flow is not feasible, pumping stations are used to lift the wastewater to a higher elevation. Wastewater collected by the viemä system is transported to a wastewater treatment plant, where it undergoes various processes to remove pollutants before being discharged into natural water bodies. Proper maintenance and regular inspections are crucial to prevent blockages, leaks, and system failures, ensuring the continued effective operation of the viemä infrastructure.