Utö island’s water crisis sees residents pay thousands as untreated wastewater flowed into sea

Residents of Utö, Finland’s southernmost inhabited island, are facing extreme water costs—up to €50 per cubic metre—while outdated infrastructure has left wastewater untreated for over a year, Yle reports.

Martin Öhman, a local resident, received a €2,000 water bill last year, calling the prices “unreasonable.” His total cost per cubic metre reached nearly €50 after including fixed fees, despite using only 42 cubic metres. The island’s water cooperative charges €15 per cubic metre plus a €340 quarterly base fee.

The crisis stems from Utö’s reliance on desalinated seawater, an expensive process compounded by aging technology. The system lacks automation, requiring manual maintenance visits that drive up costs. Ingvar Söderlund of the local heritage association noted that wastewater flowed untreated into the sea for all of 2023, though treatment has since resumed.

Residents have demanded the municipality of Parainen take responsibility, arguing the cooperative’s volunteer-led board lacks expertise. A €200,000 overhaul is needed to modernise the system, with funding still unresolved. While the cooperative explores grants like EU Leader funding, some islanders urge the city to assume control, as it already manages water services in nearby Iniö and Korpoo.

Parainen’s mayor, Tom Simola, has called for further assessments before deciding on municipal intervention.