Mikkeli – The Capital
of Clean Water
Water is vital for life. Our lake nature is extremely valuable, and our province
has the cleanest waters in the world. Water, forest and food are the focus
points of the regional strategy of South Savo.
Mikkeli
Water
Week
June 8th to 14th 2026
Mikkeli, South-Savo, Finland
We bring out the importance and possibilities of water from different perspectives, from researchers to companies in the field, residents of the
region and tourists.
We welcome you to join this highly important and professional event in Mikkeli, which is gate to the Lake Saimaa.
Mikkeli Water Week will be held again in June 2026. Welcome!
9.6. Finnish Lakeland Forum (FLF) 2026
View more (this event only in Finnish) >>
Photo by: Visit Saimaa
10–11.6. International Conference on Emerging Trends in Water Treatment (ETWT) 2026
View more >>
Photo by: Pihla Liukkonen, Kontrastia
2025 presentation materials
FLF
– Ympäristöministeriön terveiset, Sari Multala, Ympäristö- ja ilmastoministeri (videotallenne)
– Kuopion vesistötyö luonnon ja vetovoiman hyväksi, Jari Kyllönen, apulaiskaupunginjohtaja, Kuopion kaupunki
– Pienten kuntien vesihuolto, Jyri Eskelinen, toimitusjohtaja, Järvi-Saimaan palvelut
– Pintavesien tila Vuoksen vesienhoitoalueella – nykytilanne ja tulevaisuuden näkymiä, Juho Kotanen, johtava asiantuntija, Etelä-Savon ELY-keskus
– Tutkimus kaivosten vesistövaikutusten hallinnan apuna, Päivi Kauppila, johtava asiantuntija, Geologian tutkimuskeskus GTK
– Metsätalouden vesiensuojelu, Jani Salomaa, elinkeinopäällikkö, Suomen metsäkeskus
– Rotary-liike ja vesien suojelu, Markku Ranin, apulaiskuvernööri, Rotary Itä-Suomi
WDC
– Tervetuloa Mikkeliin, Juha Kauppinen, BEM-koordinaattori, Mikkelin kaupunki, Jarkko Laitinen, vesilaitoksen johtaja, Mikkelin Vesilaitos
– Master’s Programme in Water Technology, Tiina Rissanen, tutkijatohtori, LUT-yliopisto
– Suomalainen vesiosaaminen ja vientimahdollisuudet, Anitta Sihvonen, projektipäällikkö, Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
– Rahoituskartan esittely, Inkeri Kollmann, projektiasiantuntija, Finnish Water Forum
– Onnistuneita vesialan rahoitushakuja, Saija Tillgren, asiantuntija, Mikkelin kehitysyhtiö Miksei Oy
– Haitta-aineet jätevesissä: poistovaatimukset ja ratkaisut, Maija Vilpanen, erityisasiantuntija, Ympäristöministeriö
– Company presentations: Operon Group, Mipro Oy, Raita Environment Oy and Flocon Technologies Oy
– Vesiturvallisuutta kehittämässä, Hanne Soininen, TKI-yksikön johtaja ja Helena Merikoski, tutkimusryhmäpäällikkö, Xamk
Program fro the FLF and WDC
Blue Economy Mikkeli
Blue Economy Mikkeli (BEM) brings together top experts in the water sector. Mikkeli’s strengths and investment in water expertise are recognised nationally and internationally.
One example of this is the innovation ecosystem agreement that Mikkeli has signed with the Ministry of Employment and the Economy to develop a centre of excellence between 2021 and 2027.
Mikkeli – The Capital
of Clean Water
The Mikkeli region is located in the province of South Savo. In Mikkeli, you will find the perfect mix of nature experiences and local life.
Mikkeli is located between a few big lakes – Lake Puula, Lake Kyyvesi, and of course, Lake Saimaa.
Photo by: Veera Kinnunen
”Water in a Changing World
– Connecting the Dots
Water pollution is a multifaceted problem consisting of various sources, contaminants, and impacts.
Collaboration is essential to tackle the complexity and scale of water pollution problems. Attending ETWT-2024 will be a valuable investment in knowledge, networking,
and collaborative efforts for actionable solutions and partnerships that will shape the future of water sustainability.”
Amit Bhatnagar, Academic director of ETWT, LUT University
Useful information
You can easily travel here by car, bus or train – just a couple hours travel from Helsinki, the capital of Finland. We have a lovely accommodations here in Mikkeli.
Photo by: Visit Saimaa
Presenting organisations
Mikkeli Water Week is organized together with founders of the Blue Economy Mikkeli centre of excellence:
City of Mikkeli, LUT University, Mikkeli Development Miksei, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Mikkeli University Consortium (MUC) and Blue Economy Mikkeli (BEM).
Photo by: Pihla Liukkonen, Kontrastia
”Water – a matter of course,
a necessity and resource”
Juha Kauppinen, BEM coordinator, City of Mikkeli
Mikkeli is the gate to Lake Saimaa
Lake Saimaa itself is the largest of Finland’s lakes and connects several of the larger towns. You won’t find a lake like this anywhere else.
Photo by: Visit Saimaa
