Water Price List

The price changes at Napapiirin Vesi, which will come into effect on 1 January 2026, have been made in accordance with the current terms and conditions of contract, which have been in force since 1 April 2016. You can find these terms and conditions on our website (in finnish). 

The water supply infrastructure requires ongoing upkeep and maintenance. Water charges are being increased so that we can address the growing maintenance backlog and the investment needs arising from increasingly stringent legal requirements. Rovaniemi’s water supply network is extensive and ageing, and is therefore more expensive to maintain per resident than average. Furthermore, water charges have not risen at the same rate as water supply costs in recent years.

Water charges are used to fund the costs and investments associated with water supply and sewerage services, such as: 

• renovations of old networks, 
• upgrading of water intake points and treatment plants, 
• strengthening regional water supply security and contingency planning, 
• operating and maintenance costs. 

All charges collected are used to provide and improve water services. 

The water supply network comprises clean water distribution pipes, sewerage systems, stormwater drains, as well as pumping stations and water treatment works.

In Rovaniemi, the water supply network totals around 3,000 kilometres, which is more per capita than in other cities of a similar size in Finland. In a national comparison carried out by the Waterworks Association in 2024, the average length of the water supply network in large waterworks comparable to Napapiirin Vesi is around 17 metres per inhabitant, whereas in Rovaniemi the corresponding figure is as high as 31 metres per inhabitant. 

The age and condition of the network, as well as the repair backlog that has built up over previous years, call for action. Tighter legislation is also raising the standards for water quality, the condition of the network and operational reliability. Postponing refurbishment work would increase risks and costs in the future. 

The Water Services Act requires us to cover the costs of water services through user charges. An exception to this is funding received for research and development in the water sector. 

A loan can be used as part of investment financing, and indeed it is used in this way. However, loan financing alone is not enough: the debt must be repaid, and therefore sufficient revenue is also required. Loan-financed operations are not a sustainable way of operating in the long term, partly due to high interest costs.

Efforts are constantly being made to improve operational efficiency. However, the cost savings this generates are not sufficient to cover the substantial investment required to modernise the network and facilities. 

Changes to water prices with effect from 1 January 2026 will affect all customers of Napapiirin Vesi Oy. Decisions on pricing changes are taken by the company’s board of directors in accordance with the annual schedule. 

Our aim is to ensure long-term and predictable pricing. Prices are influenced by investment needs in the coming years, cost trends and obligations imposed by legislation. If the condition of the network improves in the long term and cost pressures ease, price trends may also stabilise. Planned renovations support this by aiming for a more stable and predictable cost level.

Maintaining financial stability is, however, a long-term endeavour, so the need for price increases is unlikely to disappear in the future either. Any potential price changes will always be communicated separately and in good time.

Our average 9.9 per cent increase in the price of water means an increase of around 8 euros per month on the water bill for a detached house, based on an annual consumption of 100 cubic metres.  

You can estimate the impact on your own water bill more accurately by comparing the current and new price lists with your own water consumption.  

You can save on your water bill, for example, by:

• taking shorter showers,
• by reducing the amount of tap water you run,
• running appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) at full capacity,
• repairing leaking taps.

Even a modest reduction in water consumption will show up on your bill. You can check your water consumption and your water bill on Neven’s free Assari online service. 

For a detached or semi-detached house, the water bill typically consists of:

• a basic and consumption charge for water (€/m³)
• a basic and usage charge for wastewater (€/m³). 

In a block of flats or terraced house, the water charge is often included in the service charge or in a separate consumption-based charge levied by the housing association. Residents pay for their water consumption in accordance with the housing association’s internal calculation method.