2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

NORWAY PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Norway
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$43,400
GDP per capita (PPP) US$37,910
GDP in Agriculture 1%
GDP in Industry 38%
GDP in Services 61%
Water and sewerage services
Norway has an abundance of water and supply is adequate for domestic, agricultural and industrial
uses. Approximately 87% of supplies are drawn from surface water. In 1994, withdrawals of ground
and surface waters were 0.3% of available water. Domestic consumption was 260L per capita per
day. Water is generally regarded as a free resource. There is no effective pricing for water
abstraction by agriculture and industry. The water and sewerage sector has traditionally been seen as
parts of the municipalities. Political change is starting to alter this picture. It now appears that
privatisation opportunities will appear on a one-off basis, usually in relation to the construction of a
new facility. The average household paid US$200 per annum for water and US$300 per annum for
sewerage services in 2002.
Population
2003 (million) 4.6
2015 (million) 4.7
Urbanisation in 2003 76%
Urbanisation by 2015 86%
In urban agglomerations, 2015 0%
Water provision
A national programme for improving water supply was launched in 1995 with the goal of securing
satisfactory and safe water from all waterworks supplying more than 100 people, some 85% of the
population. For water purification, 500 new drinking water disinfection plants and 500 additional plants
for colour removal are needed. At present, 65% of water is treated before being used as drinking
water. The target is to increase this percentage to 100%.
Urban data
Served by piped water 85%
Access to sewerage 80%
With sewage treatment 74%
Sewerage and sewage treatment
Long term spending plans for upgrading Norway’s sewerage network are as follows: NKr10.0 billion
for sewerage, NKr0.5 billion for sludge handling and NKr2.0 billion for treating industrial discharges.
The proportion of Norway’s population connected to sewerage services increased from 34% in 1980 to
77% in 1990 and to its current 80% level by 1995.
Sewerage and sewage treatment
1980 1990 1995 1999 2002
Tertiary treatment 26% 43% 51% 51% 54%
Secondary treatment 1% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Primary treatment 7% 13% 15% 21% 18%
Sewerage only 46% 20% 13% 7% 6%
Not connected 20% 23% 20% 20% 20%
Norway has built a number of sewage treatment plants with secondary treatment in recent years, and
secondary treatment is planned for all plants serving more than 2000 people. The capacity for
wastewater treatment is about 5.4 million PE. Currently, 67% of urban sewerage is treated. In 1997,
Norway’s sewage treatment facilities removed 1,576 tonnes of phosphorus, some 64% of the
estimated total intake at municipal sewage treatment plants and separate treatment facilities in
155 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006