Svenskt Vatten: “Someone in the government must take the lead”

Sweden’s water infrastructure is facing many challenges and is in urgent need of investment.
At the same time, water is becoming an increasingly hot political potato – bouncing between five different ministers.
“It is high time someone took control,” says Pär Dalhielm, CEO of industry organisation Svenskt Vatten.

Svenskt Vatten estimates that SEK 560 billion needs to be reinvested in Sweden’s water infrastructure by 2040. To this end the water and wastewater tariff was increased significantly last year and this year, by 8 and 14 per cent respectively.
This is necessary and a trend that is likely to continue, according to Pär Dalhielm:
“We expect the annual cost for a standard detached house, which is currently just over SEK 10,000, to quadruple by 2040.”
“That said, there is a great deal of variation between municipalities, depending on factors such as natural geographical conditions, distances, number of customers and the impact of climate change. How well the water systems have been maintained in the past also plays a role.”

Four driving forces
Pär sees four main factors driving these price rises: maintenance backlogs, emergency preparedness requirements, climate change adaptation and new legal requirements.
“The enormous maintenance debt is a direct effect of not having properly footed the cost in previous decades, as we should have done. That’s why we now need to renovate and reinvest on a major scale,” he says.
The aim of emergency preparedness requirements is to increase redundancy in the system, for example through back-up water supplies, in safety systems and with emergency water plans.
The high-profile sabotage attempt against a water tower in Bollnäs has raised many concerns.
“A key issue that needs to be clarified is what planning objectives and redundancy requirements we should have for different critical infrastructure elements, including water,” says Dalhielm.
“For us, it is important to learn, among other things, from what has happened in Finland, where there have been repeated break-ins and attacks on water and wastewater facilities. Many believe that these were carried out by foreign powers to test the robustness of society.”

Requirements for advanced treatment
Climate change is also imposing new requirements in terms of both water production and water quality.
“The EU has adopted the Drinking Water Directive, which will now be transposed into Swedish law in various stages over the next few years, including new requirements for PFAS treatment. We can also expect a new wastewater directive with higher requirements for advanced treatment, including treatment to remove pharmaceutical residues.”

Quite remarkable
Many are eagerly awaiting the report of the Water and Wastewater Emergency Preparedness Commission on 30 November. Svenskt Vatten participated in the compilation of the report as an expert.
“The aim of the report is to clarify the responsibility of the state and municipalities for water and wastewater issues. How to facilitate the financing of water services, potential requirements for investment plans, etc.,” explains Pär Dalhielm.
At the same time, he is critical of the fact that no minister or ministry has overall responsibility for water issues and water supply in Sweden:
“This is quite remarkable, given the importance of this issue for the development of society, for the climate, for business and for good preparedness.”
In the Swedish government, responsibility is shared between the Minister for Rural Affairs, the Minister for Climate and the Environment, the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Public Administration and the Minister for Civil Defence.
“I believe that the state should show much greater responsibility and be clearer about its goals and ambitions when it comes to water. This also means that someone has to be in the driving seat, taking charge.”

Expectations for Vatten2025
He hopes that Vatten2025 – the industry meeting place – to take place on 21–23 October at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre, will help raise the profile of water issues.
“This is very much a national issue that affects the whole of society. We need to get it higher on the social agenda,” says Pär Dalhielm.
“I’m also expecting Vatten2025 to be the meeting place we all need: bringing together the stakeholders, i.e. the water and wastewater organisations, and those in the private sector who can help find the solutions. The enormous challenges we face can only be solved by joining forces.”