Water resources management in Denmark

Transcription

1 Water resources management in Denmark Presentation for Water Bridges Conference: "Sustainable Urban Water Management Athens, January 2016 Carl-Emil Larsen, Executive Director DANVA Danish Water and Wastewater Association

2 Content History water management in Denmark Danish water action plans and the Water Framework Directive Water management status in Denmark Organisation, policy, regulation, prices and planning Prices securing funds for implementation of legislation Comprehensive planning framework: municipal development plans, local development plans spatial planning, water supply plans, sewage plans, climate change adaptation plans Cases Esbjerg, Copenhagen, Aarhus

3 DANVA in brief Branch organisation for Danish utilities Board consists of local politicians and utility directors 120 member companies Members service more than 5 mil. Danes 300 members are actively engaged Entitled to contribute to public hearings Member services: Training, communication, knowledge sharing, standardisation, projects and representation of members interests The purpose of DANVA is to look out for members and the Danish water sectors interests by promoting a stable, efficient and ethically responsible supply of water and sewage treatment of a high quality and in an environmentally sustainable foundation

4 History of water management in Denmark A country of km 3, with a coastline of km s and 406 islands As all over Europe large cholera outbreaks in 1850 ies Copenhagen in 1853: dead Safe water supply, efficient sanitation solutions, underground sewers followed First public water work constructed in 1853 in Odense Basic sewage treatment early 1900 ies and first mechanic sewage treatment plant built and in operation in 1948

5 Improving water environment in Denmark First ministry of the environment in 1971 and first law on protection of the environment in 1973 Serious pollution of surface and marine waters in 1970 ies and 1980 ies Eutrophication caused dead fish and lobsters in First Danish Water Action Plan in 1987: regulation of nutrients from agriculture, national criteria for removal of nutrients at WWTP s (first in Europe), restoration of rivers and lakes Gradual recovery of surface and marine waters Results of Danish legislation was an inspiration European Water Framework Directive for the

6 Implementing EU legislation Water Framework Directive to secure good environmental condition is a cornerstone in Denmark as in the rest of EU Ministry of Environment and Food is the Water Authority in Denmark 4 Water districts and 23 catchment areas Current River Basin Management Plans ( ) are delayed in Denmark

7 Current status in Denmark 5,5 millions of people consume on average 106 liters of water per day at a price of 8,5 pr m3, all based on groundwater with minimal treatment Water consumption in Denmark has decreased 15% over the last 10 years, while production has increased. Water losses in the distribution networks are 5-7% in Danish cities. 24 DANVA members among the 27 in Europe with lowest water leakages 90% of Danish households are connected to one of the 674 WWTP s All cities are covered by climate adaptation plans

8 Organisation, policy and regulation Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark: Environmental policy and regulation, WFD implementation Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate: Regulation and policy related to supply of services: water, energy, waste Ministry of Business and Growth: Economic regulation of water utilities Separation of authority and operations Municipalities: Local water and environment authority, responsible for local water plans and compliance with legislation Water and sewage utilities: organised as private companies, larger owned by municipalities, responsible for water supply, sewage abstraction and treatment, storm water management and partly climate change adaptation

9 Implementation of full cost recovery Realism in policy making a Danish tradition to secure sufficient funds to implement all legislation

10 Lowering water consumption Water price covers water supply, waste water treatment, groundwater mapping, monitoring and protection, storm water management Consumption is metered regularly. Since 1999 all connected households must have a water meter and pay according to consumption Remote metering with leakage detection If leakage rates are above 10% - utilities are fined

11 A comprehensive planning framework Municipal and local development plans, to include water and spatial planning Water supply plans Sewage management plans Climate adaption plans Water safety planning Contingency plans

12 Planning for water supply in Esbjerg: 5th largest city in Denmark, supplied by utility, 107 liters water per person per day

13 Overcoming water challenges key to Esbjergs growth from 1864 until today A city landmark the water tower from 1897

14 EU: WRD and Drinking water directives Municipality water supply plan Law on water supply Link to sewage plans to protect water resources General municipality development plan Plans for water abstraction, mapping of water supply Careful planning to secure water quality, reliability, service, environment and low prices

15 Protection of the water ressource is vital for safe and reliable supply. Afforestation is among means.

16 Climate change adaption and cloudburst management in Copenhagen the capital of Denmark

17 Severe flooding events in 2010 and 2011 cause a need for action from municipality and HOFOR - utility of Greater Copenhagen

18 Climate change adaptation plan followed by cloudburst management plan in 2012 Investment levels Protection against a 100 year event Cost benefit analysis Ownership

19 New solutions are being developed to manage storm water and contribute to urban liveability

20 Planning for improved waste water management and treatment in Aarhus, Denmarks second largest city

21 Key elements in the wastewater plan: linking to national water plans and municipality plans, distributions networks, WWTP s, cc adaptation, funding

22 Combined management of sewer networks, retention tanks and WWTP s. More:

23 Improved flood control, surface and bathing water quality and urban liveability

24 Thank you for your attention