Petäjävesi municipality will take over maintenance of the Vehkasuo spring located along Highway 23. The spring sits between Kuohu and Kintauden villages in Central Finland. Municipal officials signed an agreement with the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment last week. They aim to restore the spring for safe use by this autumn.
The spring's fate remained uncertain for five years. During this period, no one monitored its water quality. Local residents continued using it despite the lack of official oversight.
Technical manager Reija Laamanen explained the situation. "The spring is technically under a usage ban," she said. "But when I drive past it daily, there are always cars parked there."
On Wednesday, asphalt truck driver Riku Sihvonen stopped at the spring simultaneously with a local journalist. The Tampere resident filled a 20-liter container for coffee and drinking water. Sihvonen has transported asphalt from Keuruu to Muurame for two months. He occasionally stops to collect water from the spring.
The municipal takeover represents a practical solution to a local resource issue. Residents clearly value this natural water source enough to ignore official restrictions. The restoration work will legitimize what people have been doing anyway.