The removal of sanding gravel is once again timely. The cleanup has begun on both public walkways and private properties. It is also advisable to clear the sanding gravel from your own yard and sidewalk as soon as weather conditions allow.
Below are general guidelines for removing the gravel: The gravel should primarily be removed while it is damp, for example by taking advantage of rainy weather. Surfaces can then be rinsed clean with water. The use of leaf blowers for removing sanding gravel is prohibited because they create unnecessary noise and lift large amounts of dust into the air. Sanding gravel should also not be swept onto a street that may already have been cleaned.
Street dust worsens air quality in Kouvola during the spring and can cause health and comfort issues. Those particularly sensitive to the health effects of dust include children, asthmatics, and people suffering from heart and lung diseases. Even healthy individuals may experience irritation symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing, and itching or stinging in the throat and eyes.
You can monitor the air quality situation in Kouvola through the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s air quality portal.