There are more than 40 ponds in Helsinki. The exact number depends on how the term pond is defined. The Helsinki City Environment Centre and the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Helsinki University surveyed the ponds in Helsinki during 2006. Twelve of the ponds were chosen for closer examination. Six of these ponds were situated close to urban developments, while the other six were located further away from housing, in more natural surroundings. Based on the questionnaire, the ponds were clearly important for the inhabitants near by. Most of the respondents defined the pond and its surroundings as a pleasant place. Despite this, more than half of the respondents also found faults related to the pond and its environment. The strongest fault pointed out in the response was the prevalence of drinking gangs near the ponds. A lot of attention was also paid to problems related to the water quality of the pond, such as eutrophication, algae and excess macrophyte growth, and the nuisance caused by bird droppings. Helsinki City Environment Centre
