A small town spent €200 000 to save a pond – a unique clean-up experiment appears to have been a success
Invasive species such as the water milfoil and sunfish threatened to choke a popular swimming spot in Paimio. The city decided to drain the pond completely. The pond filled up faster than expected.
An extraordinary method has been tried to save an invasive pond in Paimio, Southwest Finland.
The popular swimming pond was pumped dry in late 2023 to eradicate the boil water plague and sunfish. A similar cleaning method has not been tried before in Finland.
– This is a spring-based pond and presumably the springs have produced so much water that the level has risen faster than we expected,” says Mäkiö.
This week, the first swimmers have already been seen in the pond. The normal water level is still missing about 40 cents, but there is no obstacle to the use of the pond, according to Mäkiö.
Samples taken from the pond have been clean.
A plague spreading from North America
The renovation of a 1.3 -hectare pond has cost the city of Paimio EUR 186,000, of which approximately EUR 30,000 was covered with the help of ELY. The city had reserved € 250,000 for the project.
The swordwater and sunshine are expected to have ended up being condemned by a human belast with aquarium water. Both the plague and the sunshine have also been observed in other ponds across Finland.
– The swelling of the swollen water is very difficult to fight. There are ponds in Europe that have grown up because of it, says Mäkiö.
Also, the plant was initially tried to remove the plant by diving, but it was not enough help.
Swimwear to be rinsed
The emptying of Paimio’s Duck pond has attracted interest elsewhere in Finland. According to Mäkiö, emptying as a refurbishment method is mainly suitable for small ponds.
– In addition, there must be good demolition connections to which the waters can be safely discharged.
The waters from the duck pond were led along the ditch to the adjacent Paimionjoki River.
Despite the large cleaning operation, there is no guarantee that the pond remains clean. Listing water crushing has also been observed in another sand bead in Paimio Swimming Pond. According to Mäkiö, the plant can spread from one pond to another, for example through swimwear and toys.
– Much depends on human activity. The swollen water is already spreading from a small piece of plant, and waterfowl can also spread it, but it is hoped that the pond remains clean.