Water expertise by Finnish Environment Institute
Water modelling services for rivers, lakes and coastal waters
Assess how planned operations may affect water flow, water quality and the transport of substances from catchments and rivers to lakes and coastal waters.
Understand impacts and compare alternatives
Finnish Environment Institute provides hydrological, hydrodynamic and water quality modelling for public authorities, hydropower companies, consultants and water management organizations. We model water flow and the transport of nutrients, chemicals and other substances from catchments and rivers to lakes and coastal waters.
Our modelling helps you assess the potential effects of wastewater discharges, water regulation, construction and aquaculture. It can also support the comparison of design alternatives during environmental planning.
We select the modelling scale and tools to suit the case. Our capabilities range from high-resolution local models to linked, large-scale modelling systems. We can also develop custom code and include lake ice formation and ice cover in calculations when needed.
Services we provide
We combine established modelling tools with case-specific expertise to examine water flow, water quality and substance transport at the scale relevant to your project.
Lake hydrodynamic and ecological modelling
Multi-year lake simulations
River flow and transport modelling
Catchment and national-scale modelling of hydrology and water quality
Finnish coastal water modelling
References
Our references show how modelling can be adapted to questions involving contaminant transport, drinking-water resources, water circulation and the environmental effects of new infrastructure.
Contaminant transport through connected waters
For Turun Seudun Vesi Oy, Finnish Environment Institute modelled the transport and evolution of aquatic contaminants from an upstream wastewater treatment plant through a network of lakes and rivers to the intake of an artificial groundwater plant.
We used a three-dimensional hydrodynamic transport model for the lake sections and a one-dimensional hydrodynamic transport model for the river sections. This connected approach represented the different flow and transport conditions along the full route from the discharge source to the water intake.
Flow-reversal risk in Lake Tuomiojärvi
For Jyväskylä Energy Group, Finnish Environment Institute assessed how flow reversal between two small lakes could affect the water quality of Lake Tuomiojärvi in Finland. The lakes are connected by a narrow, free-flowing channel. The lake with better water quality is normally slightly upstream and serves as a municipal drinking-water source for Jyväskylä.
We developed a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model to examine the water balance between the lakes and identify the environmental conditions under which the direction of flow could reverse.
Pumping scenarios for Pien-Saimaa
For the Regional Council of South Karelia, Finnish Environment Institute developed water-flow and water-quality scenarios to examine a pumping-based approach to improving water quality in Pien-Saimaa.
Using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model, we simulated how flows and water quality in Pien-Saimaa could change if a new channel and pumping station were built between Saimaa and Pien-Saimaa. The scenarios provided a computational basis for examining the proposed solution and its effects.
Water exchange around a new lakeside district
For Ramboll Oy, Finnish Environment Institute used a high-resolution, nested three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Lake Näsijärvi. The model simulated water exchange in the waterways of the new Hiedanranta district, which is being developed on artificial islands in the lake.
The nested modelling approach made it possible to represent both wider lake circulation and the finer-scale waterways relevant to the planned district within the same assessment.
Impacts of nutrient emissions from aquaculture
For several planned inland fish farms, the Finnish Environment Institute has assessed how nutrient emissions may affect water quality in the receiving water bodies and throughout the entire downstream watercourse. These assessments are carried out using the national-scale WSFS-Vemala model system.
The simulations typically compare nutrient concentrations under current conditions with a range of aquaculture development scenarios, including fish farms of different production capacities and varying climatic conditions. The results support the evaluation of environmental impacts and help identify sustainable production levels. Similar modelling approach can also be applied to assess the impacts of nutrient emissions from other point sources.
Adapting lake regulation to climate change
The WSFS modelling system has been used in numerous projects to adapt lake regulation permits and practices to climate change. It can be used to simulate alternative regulation strategies under different climate change scenarios and assess their impacts.
Frequently asked questions
The answers below explain the scope of the service and how the modelling approach can be adapted to different assessment needs.
What types of water environments can you model?
We model rivers, lakes, catchments and Finnish coastal waters. Depending on the question, we can use a high-resolution local model or a connected modelling system covering areas up to the national scale.
What kinds of impacts can the service assess?
Our modelling can support assessments of wastewater discharges, water regulation, construction and aquaculture. We model water flow, water quality and the transport of substances such as nutrients and chemicals.
Can you compare different project or design alternatives?
Yes. Modelling can provide a consistent computational basis for comparing how alternative designs or operating approaches may influence water flow, substance transport and water quality.
Can the modelling include lake ice conditions?
Yes. Where relevant to the assessment, ice formation and ice cover on lakes can be included in the calculations.
Can the modelling tools be adapted to a specific case?
Yes. We select the modelling tools and spatial scale according to the waterbody and assessment question. Established tools can be complemented with custom code on a case-by-case basis.
Turn water-impact questions into evidence
Tell us about the waterbody, planned activity and decision your assessment needs to support. Our experts can help identify a suitable modelling approach and scope.