Baltic Sea Region. The quality of groundwater is threatened due to the risk of contamination from untreated waste waters. By qualified handling of waste waters it is possible to reduce the nutrient load and hygienic problems. The handling of sludge from treatment plants is also becoming a problem. Optimization of sludge handling can result in notable benefits. This project aims to promote educational cooperation and change of best practises and experience between Finland and Estonia. In addition, monitoring systems and maintenance practises of small waste water treatment plants will be developed. Knowledge accumulated during the project will be distributed widely. The educational cooperation will improve the level of education and spread know-how widely among inhabitants. The central aim of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC is to assure a good ecological status of surface waters within 15 years, by 2015. In Finland the waste water management regulations were tightened by a statute of 1.1. 2004. The regulation concerns properties outside the sewage infrastructure, meaning about 1 million inhabitants. Improvement of about 20 000 – 25 000 waste water systems should be carried out annually until 2014 in order to reach the goal to cover all these properties. In Estonia there are about 400 000 people living outside the sewage infrastructure. Competent planning, installation and maintenance of waste water treatment systems are extremely important in order to reach a sufficient level of waste water management from the point of view of water protection. The main objective of the project is to improve water quality by decreasing waste water loads from sparsely populated areas and from free-time settlements. The aims of this project are: exchange of knowledge and experience in handling of waste water in sparsely populated areas, education, training and dissemination of good practices. Models for common wastewater treatment practices, maintenance, service and follow-up systems are developed. Possibilities for sludge handling are investigated. Research results are used in educational development and improving handling systems, and they are disseminated through educational and authority networks. Achievements: The MINWA project improved water quality by decreasing waste water loads from sparsely populated areas and from free-time settlements. Models were developed by the project for common wastewater treatment practices, maintenance, service and follow-up systems. The project investigated the potential for sludgehandling. The project focused on research, training, exchange of knowledge and experience in the treatment of wastewater. Research results and good practices were disseminated through educational, authority and expert networks in Estonia and Finland. In both countries, the project served to develop a counselling system in order to give information and guidance to inhabitants.