Water tap in Helsinki. Photo: HSY
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As summer temperatures rise in the Finnish capital, residents and their dogs are turning to an often-overlooked solution for quick relief: public water taps.
Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) maintains 67 vesipostit, or water posts, across the capital area, offering free access to drinking water throughout the warm season. While some residents use them regularly, others are only just discovering how simple they are to use.
At Fredrikintori in central Helsinki, Olli Leppänen fills a container to take back to his office.
“I get water here every day,” he said. “It tastes better than what comes from my tap at home. I think it’s because it hasn’t been sitting in pipes — fewer metals dissolve into it.”
Leppänen began collecting water from the post two months ago and has continued the routine, even through colder weather. He noted occasional issues in winter but praised HSY for its quick maintenance response.
Fredrikintori’s water post is also a popular stop for local dogs. Niko Lipsanen, sitting outside a flower stand with Anni, a dog he’s looking after, said the tap is part of their daily routine.
“Whenever we’re here, I always get water for Anni from the tap,” he said. “I haven’t tried it myself, though.”
Others are still adjusting to the system. Barbara and Vivian Castilla, originally from Rome, said they were familiar with public taps from their home city but found the pressure of the water in Helsinki slightly too strong for their small dog, Simon.
“Next time we’ll bring a bottle with us,” Barbara said. “It’s great not to have to buy water.”
Sonja Jusi had hesitated in the past due to the stiffness of the taps but was surprised by the ease of use after recent updates.
“They’ve been improved,” she said. “The handles used to be tight, but now it’s much easier.”
HSY’s online map shows all functioning water posts in the capital area, marked with blue dots. Residents can also vote on where future taps should be installed through a survey on the HSY website.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
