2025.08.19

Is there a water shortage in Sweden?

There is currently a water shortage in several places in Sweden. But what does that really mean? There is water, but we do not have sufficient capacity to purify and distribute the water that is available, which is due to several different reasons.

• The investment need in water and sanitation is large and neglected, municipalities have let maintenance lag and have not made the necessary investments.
• Large leakages of drinking water and infiltration of stormwater into the sewage system cause the systems to overproduce, in some cases as much as 50% of the purified drinking water never reaches the recipient.
• Climate change means that we do not have sufficient capacity for "unforeseen" weather events, such as hundred-year rain or prolonged heat
• While the need for investment is large and growing, not least because we need to change and become climate neutral, the funds that are budgeted are not being invested to a sufficient extent.

How can we then address the problem?

We need to collaborate better and more to create resilient and climate-adapted societies. Water industry members want to contribute with their expertise, proven methods, innovation, competence and delivery of high-quality sustainable solutions. Feel free to take the opportunity to explore new solutions at Mötesplats Water2025 October 21-23 this fall.

Welcome with curious questions, early dialogue before procurement, testing and development. Together we create resilient and climate-adapted societies.