The development of snow management in Helsinki is essential as the need for snow transportation will increase in the future as the city grows, and at the same time many of the existing snow dump areas will be closed. Snow management is further complicated by the unpredictability of winter snowfall and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change.
Dumping snow into the sea to be replaced with other methods
Helsinki wants to give up its last sea-based snow dump area in Hernesaari. The aim is that the sea snow dump area would only be used as a back-back solution in snowy winters, when other methods are not sufficient to ensure Helsinki’s smooth functioning.
Snow management projects aim to increase snow dumping capacity in order to eliminate the need for dumping snow into the sea. Dumping snow into the sea will be replaced with other methods by 2033 or earlier if required by law.
Snow management projects 2023–2033
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1. Increasing snow dumping capacity on land
Goal for 2033: nine dump areas and total capacity for 120,000 loads of snow
Situation in 2023: six dump areas and total capacity for 90,000 loads of snow -
2. Increasing the number of snow melting devices
Goal for 2033: 21 small melting devices, total capacity for more than 35,000 loads of snow
Situation in 2023: two snow melting plants that will be closed, total capacity for less than 35,000 loads of snow -
3. Increasing the local storage of snow
Goal for 2033: 2,000 parking areas and other urban space for local storage, capacity for 2,000 loads of snow
Situation in 2023: 0 areas, capacity for 0 loads of snow -
4. Giving up sea-based dumping of snow
Goal for 2033: the sea-based dumping of snow will only be used in winters with heavy snowfall
Situation in 2023: capacity for a maximum of 60,000 loads of snow every winter -
5. Innovative markets for snow
Goal for 2033: private snow dumping, putting snow into use and new business
Situation in 2023: no private snow dumping, snow not put into use, no special business