Europe is running out of time to fix its water networks

Europe’s water pipes are ageing and the clock is ticking. A new Sweco report shows that renewal rates across the Nordics fall far short of what is needed to keep systems resilient.

It would take 196 years to renew Sweden’s entire drinking water network at the current pace. Denmark fares better at 123 years and Norway at 167 years, but none of the Nordic countries come close to Belgium’s 91 years. At the other end of the scale, Finland would need 769 years. That is according to a new report from Sweco.

Sweden invests EUR 187 per capita annually in water and wastewater infrastructure, more than double the European average of EUR 82. But the investments also need to cover increased capacity, improved treatment and climate adaptation.

“A pipe’s age does not tell you everything about when it needs attention. A failure in a younger but critical pipe can have greater consequences than one in an older pipe. We need to weigh the condition of assets against what an interruption would mean for people, businesses and the environment,” says Mattias Salomonsson, water expert at Sweco.

Ageing pipes and treatment plants must cope with growing pressures from climate change, stricter treatment requirements and disruptions to energy supply. The report points to a need for both increased investment and smarter prioritisation.

“We are planning facilities that need to function for many decades, while climate, water quality and emergency preparedness requirements keep changing. Systems need to be designed so they can adapt as conditions evolve,” says Salomonsson.