Our community

Being Estonia’s largest water company, our activity affects almost one third of Estonia’s population. We understand the impact of our business on the surrounding natural habitat and therefore deem it important that our activities engage with the interests of different stakeholders. We give our best to do more than what is required and expected from us, in order to make a positive impact on the natural environment around us as well as the quality of people’s life.

Community-orientated mind-set starts from ourselves

We support and encourage our employees to actively participate in the community activities. It is namely our employees who, in addition to their daily work, have an important responsibility of passing on the environment- and community-orientated mind-set.

Our employees enable to carry out the activities that are orientated to community, and create cohesion between these activities.

For example, each year our employees help to clean up the beautiful surroundings of Soodla water reservoir, help to organize the doors open days at our treatment plants so that visitors could learn about the operating of the plants, and take actively part in carrying and communicating our messages. Like for many years before, our employees together with the employees of Coca-Cola Hellenic and the Embassy of the United States of America cleaned the Pikakari beach within the framework of cleaning up event “Let’s Do It!”, for the local community to be able to enjoy the scenic coastal area. Over 100 volunteers participated to contribute.

Improved environmental awareness of consumers and next generation

We value the natural environment we operate in, therefore use natural resources sparingly and continuously seek new ways for a more sustainable consumption. In order to help shape an environmentally conscious way of thinking in the society, we encourage and support others accordingly.

We keep on working hard to encourage people’s environmental mind-set. Through continuous activities and images, we promote tap water as drinking water. We draw their attention to the excellent quality of tap water with our message “Tap Water IS Drinking Water.” We also continued our co-operation with restaurants, so that the customers would have the courage and awareness to ask for tap water when they dine out. In the end of 2014, 85% of people trusted tap water quality, while only 48% of people drank tap water just few years ago, in 2011.
2014 was the Gulf of Finland Year, the aim of which was to draw attention on the seawater quality and the natural habitat in general. Treating wastewater at Paljassaare Wastewater Treatment Plant significantly contributes to the shaping of cleaner Baltic Sea. In order for the people to make their contribution to the cleaner nature environment, but even more importantly – so that they would know how to prevent problems and fuss caused by the blockages, we once again draw the public attention on the topic „Don’t Clog the Toilet.” The figure of SAPO or Sanitary Police explained people what can be thrown into the toilet and what may cause blockages in the pipelines.
We continue contributing to environmental awareness of youth who would value environment. Our employees organise group conversations in kindergartens and schools where we discuss the topics of water circle, sparing water consumption and blockages.
We have put together two sets of study materials on water and environment for teachers, supporting the new national study program of nature studies. “Blue Classroom” is meant for using in the nature study classes of the II school level (grades 4-6). In 2014, in connection with the Gulf of Finland Year, we published a new study material “Blue Classroom: LABORATORY,” which suits mainly for teaching nature studies in the III school level (grades 7-9). To introduce these materials, information days for the teachers of primary school and nature studies were organized, with 13 school teachers from Tallinn participating.
Besides our main responsibilities – production of drinking water and treatment of wastewater – our treatment plants also have an important role to play in increasing the population’s awareness. Each year we introduce the plants’ work to more and more people. In 2014, a total of almost 1,500 visitors took guided tours in the treatment plants.
In order to further encourage youth to protect and save the surrounding natural environment we participated in the “Back to School” project. Within the “Tours of Wisdom” project, we invited the schools and classes to submit creative application to visit our treatment plants – this time, 5 schools took interest, and the winner was Põltsamaa Gymnasium who wrote lyrics for the song about Lake Ülemiste. Video about the performance.
Every year, we open the doors of our treatment plants also during the doors open day. In spring, over 100 people visited Paljassaare Wastewater Treatment Plant. The traditional open doors day at Ülemiste Water Treatment Plant in the end of August brought together record-shuttering 800 people in addition to sports enthusiasts, who were introduced with the plant’s work. After a guided tour in the plant the visitors were offered water cocktails made on site.

Cooperation and attention

We wish to contribute and provide positive impressions also to the people who need more assistance and attention in the society.

We have supported the disabled people through the nursery “Õunake” and the Estonian Union of Sports for the Disabled, also the children with learning difficulties in Ristiku Elementary School for years. It is very touching to draw attention to those who really need help and attention. We organised a meeting of Ristiku Elementary School children with the Pille Lill Music Fund, so that children could take part in and learn about classical music. Positive emotions are powerful inspirers and children’s enthusiasm about music is free and sincere.
In February, the Minister of Culture Ms Urve Tiidus recognized the companies who have long supported the Estonian culture. We received a valuable title “Friend of the Culture 2014.”
We are a member of the Association of Friends of Tallinn Zoological Gardens and proudly sponsor a polar bear girl called Nora.
In cooperation with the city district governments, we gave planting soil for free to everybody who were interested in it to make our city look more fresh and green.
High quality drinking water was provided at numerous sports and health promotion events. We also provide water for the Flower Festival and ice skating rinks in winter.
We help to make happen one of the largest Estonian cultural events, the Dark Nights Film Festival. Last year the festival had 80,000 visitors.
Last year the Responsible Business Forum awarded the Company with the silver mark of sustainable business index. This index helps us to consistently analyse how to act in a socially responsible manner and design a sustainable business model.