Briefs, Wetland Edition: Mired Horse, Runoff Threatens Spas
A rescue squad was dispatched around 16:00 on Tuesday afternoon to Nüpli village near Otepää , where a horse was stuck in a mire.
The rescuers used a towrope and lift to extricate the animal. The Southern region rescue center told uudised.err.ee that stables were located in the vicinity.
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One of the places where Haapsalu's spas extract their famed curative mud is at risk and water quality is deteriorating, ERR radio reported. The back reaches of the bay - the part called Tagalaht, viewable from the promenade - drew a "very poor" environmental status rating from the Environment Ministry, the worst possible grade.
Luckily for the spas, it isn't a microbiological problem or health risk, but much excess mud and debris has accumulated. Based on a 2010 finding that runoff treatment facility were not up to snuff, the city's filtration systems were improved, but the water quality has not improved. "It's the sort of body of water that is very shallow, muddy and under ice cover for a long time in winter," said Kaja Lotman of the Environmental Board. Minimizing influx of additional mud and cutting reeds are among the few courses of action officials say are even possible.
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Kunda Vesi, the water utility for a northeastern coast town, is asking its customers to boil water before drinking it until next Monday, as tiny worm-like animals have been spotted in the water. A lab has been summoned to take samples to find out what the minuscule creatures are. The utility also advised customers that a precautionary round of disinfection carried out Tuesday night might cause water to taste more strongly of chlorine.