Criminal Charges over Nokia Water Crisis

The director of the water utility of the town of Nokia and one person working in a supervisory position in the water company face criminal charges stemming from the contamination of the local water supply. The charges that the two might face would be for neglecting their official duties.

A police investigation is underway aimed at ascertaining if the suspects should have known that an illegal pipe connecting the water supply and the waste water system had been in place for 20 years.

In addition to the officials, the police suspect the employee who accidentally opened a valve of the connecting pipe.

The contamination of the water supply with treated sewage in late November rendered local water undrinkable until late this month. Hundreds of people suffered stomach symptoms from drinking the tainted water.

The newspaper Aamulehti said that officials are also examining the deaths of seven old people to see if drinking contaminated water might have been a contributing factor.

Local police say that the deaths are not believed to be connected with the water crisis, and nobody is suspected of wrongful death in the matter.