2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

DENMARK PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Denmark
Water policy and provision
Water policy is framed by the Water Supply Act of 1978 (amended 1997) and the Environmental
Protection Act (amended 1997). Water pricing policy is designed to ensure that the total revenue
from water charges does not exceed total costs, including appropriation for future investments.
Almost all costs are recovered through water charges. In 1994, an environment tax on drinking water
for household use was introduced in order to encourage conservation. A tax on wastewater for
discharges of nitrogen, phosphorous and organic substances entered into force in 1997.
All urban and rural households have access to safe water provision and sewerage services, with 90%
of the population connected to piped water services. 99% of the Danish drinking water is extracted
from underground supplies. National policy emphasises the maintenance of the quality of water
resources rather than post priori water treatment. Water is obtained via 30 year water extraction
permits. There are 540 municipalities, served by 120 water provision entities. 90% of water works
are run privately, while the remainder are run by the municipalities. The public water works supply
two-thirds of the population. The local private water provision service companies cover 25% of the
population, with a further 10% of the population being effectively self served, although they are
usually connected to the municipal sewerage network. Notwithstanding the exception below, there
appears to be no particular desire to see the privatisation of larger water and sewerage networks in
the foreseeable future.
Domestic water prices have increased from DKK13/m 3 in 1993 to DKK35/m 3 in 2002, with water
consumption falling from 155 litres per capita/day to 125 litres per capita/day during the same period.
Water supplies cost €382 million in 2000, along with €680 million for sewerage and sewage treatment.
Sewerage and sewage treatment
A survey in 1995 identified a spend of Dkr100 billion (£11.6 billion) on water provision and sewerage
compliance work for 1995-2020. Many of the targets implied by the survey would appear to seek to
use EU criteria as bare minima.
Domestic sewage treatment
In 1975, 45% of domestic sewage was untreated with 27% being subject to secondary treatment. By
1987, 21% of effluents were untreated and the 19876 Action Plan resulted in all effluents being
treated; 12% to secondary and 87% to tertiary standard. 59% of sewage sludge was applied to land
in 2002, against 12% being landfilled and 29% incinerated. In 1987, 31% of sludges were landfilled,
27% incinerated, with 42% being applied to land.
Inland water quality 1999 2000 2001 2002
1&2 – Bad 4% 3% 3% 3%
3 – Fair 14% 15% 13% 12%
4 – Good 46% 43% 42% 40%
5 – Very Good 24% 26% 27% 30%
6&7 – Excellent 12% 13% 15% 15%
In 1990, the municipality of Farum undertook a sale and lease-back of its wastewater treatment plant.
No further PSP has been identified.
Private sector company operations (Please see the relevant company entry for details)
Company Parent company
Population served
(country) Water Sewerage Total
Krüger VE (France) 0 60,000 60,000
Source:
Miljøministerriet (2004) Water in Denmark, 2003. Copenhagen, Denmark
81 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006