Finland. SEB Leasing Oy

The 15-year-maturity loan totalling EUR 16 million has been provided for financing the acquisition of equipment to be leased to Turun Seudun Vesi Oy for a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) project, which was signed 6 June 2011.  The artificial recharge project of the Virttaankangas aquifer is a solution implemented by Turun Seudun Vesi in order to safeguard the water supply for seven municipalities with about 290,000 inhabitants.

Clean drinking water and a secure supply of water are key elements in the local economy of the Turku region and one of the most important cornerstones in building and maintaining a competitive economy.

The key environmental issue relates to the long-term changes in the groundwater quality in the Virttaankangas esker area. The quality of infiltrated water is regulated by EU directive 2006/118/EU. As artificial and natural groundwater mix over time, the quality of the groundwater will inevitably change. However, artificial groundwater will not significantly differ from natural groundwater and thus all groundwater resources in the Virttaakangas esker area will remain potable.