Capital's traditional carpet-washing activities may move inland

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In the next few years, public carpet-washing activities - a familiar traditional summer sight in Helsinki and one that is marvelled at and much photographed by tourists - may be moved on shore from some of Helsinki’s traditional floating wooden jetties, from where the washing waters go straight into the sea, thus making the whole business of washing mats and carpets with pine soap and sea water slightly environmentally questionable.
     
According to a draft resolution by the City of Helsinki’s Environmental Committee, the carpet-washing activities could be moved away from the most easily-strained seaside areas by the year 2016.
      From the carpet-washing sites located on land, the water used could be directed into the city’s wastewater sewage system instead of the sea.
     
The proposal also focuses on the equality of the city-dwellers, pointing out that more carpet-washing sites should be provided for the northern areas of the city, located away from the sea shore.
      The Environmental Committee will discuss the matter in its meeting on Tuesday of next week.
      If the committee approves the proposal, it will then move to be handled by the City Board.
     
So far, the only Helsinki carpet-washing site located on land is in Pukinmäki near the River Vantaa.
      It was set up in 2008, and the start-up costs were approximately EUR 280,000.
      All told, there are 14 public carpet-washing sites in Helsinki.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Environment Committee calls for investigation into adverse effects of carpet-washing on sea water (27.5.2011)

See also:
  Wanted: New ideas for Design Capital 2012 (30.3.2010)

Links:
  Another image from Flickr, this time of a communal carpet washing site on land rather than by the sea
  A typical carpet-washing jetty (this one is in Kaivopuisto), as seen by a user of the Flickr photo-sharing site.

Helsingin Sanomat