Swedish Water: SEK 590 billion needed to tackle water shortages

Water shortages are becoming a growing problem in Sweden, but the country still lacks a clear national authority responsible for securing its water supply. Pär Dalhielm, chief executive of the industry organization Svenskt Vatten, calls the situation unsustainable.

Across Europe, clean water has long been taken for granted. That assumption is coming under pressure from aging infrastructure, rising pollution, climate change and security threats. Water shortages already occur every year across about 30% of Europe’s land area.

Sweden is also feeling the strain. At present, 11 of the country’s 21 counties face a risk of water shortages, including Stockholm and Uppsala. A major factor has been the lack of precipitation during the past winter, followed by lower-than-normal rainfall in spring. Population growth and expanding industry are adding to the pressure, while climate change is intensifying the challenge.

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When there is drought, the water evaporates and makes the soil drier, and when it rains, the water does not seep into the ground but simply runs off.

“When there is drought, the water evaporates and makes the soil drier, and when it rains, the water does not seep into the ground but simply runs off,” Dalhielm said. He noted that water shortage can mean too little water, but also water of inadequate quality. Drinking-water sources can be contaminated by pollutants such as PFAS, while warmer water encourages bacteria, algae and other organic material, making drinking water harder to produce.

Europe’s towns and cities sit above about 6.8 million kilometers of water and sewage pipes. Sweden’s network alone stretches the equivalent of five times around the globe, Dalhielm said. Much of it was built in the mid-20th century and is approaching the end of its technical life. Infrastructure renewal ranks as the water sector’s biggest challenge in a recent survey of members of the European water-sector organization Eureau. “People mainly think of potholes when they talk about roads, but our underground pipes are full of potholes,” Dalhielm said. On average, about 17% of produced water leaks away before reaching customers.

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People mainly think of potholes when they talk about roads, but our underground pipes are full of potholes.