Lisbeth Flindt JørgensenGeological Survey of Denmark and Greenland

Danish Water Forum

Groundwater Governance in Denmark Experiences and recommendations

Net precipitation - mm/year

Groundwater for all water uses – 100%

Setting the scene:

43,000 km2

5.6 mill. people

A cultural landscape: - 10% nature - 10% woods - 6% towns

- 60% agriculture- 50.000 farms

Groundwater is –all over!

40% - present and future needs

~ 400 GW bodies- 3 levels

Drinking water abstraction

- decentralized2,500 plants

~75,000 private wells

600 - 700 mill. m3/year

Domestic use appr. 2/3

From groundwater to drinking water -simple water treatment

Aeration FiltrationWell

Water supply plant Water tank Customers

Flush water

Danish water consumption

A 30% reductionsince the late 1980s from 101 to 70 m3

per person/year

Copenhagen 2012 domestic use:

105 l/day/person;100 l in 2017

Pricing and water use

7,5 DKK = 1 €> 6€ / m3

15 EEK = 1 €< 1€ / m3

Source:IWA 2012: International Statistics for Water Services

Structure of Danish groundwater services• Ministry of the Environment and its Nature Agency is responsible for the

overall planning, mapping and monitoring as well as legislation, guidancesdocuments etc

• Regions take care of remediation of contaminated sites (‘sins of the past’)• 98 municipalities are responsible for water supply strategies and licensing

as well as waste water treatment• Water supply companies (around 2,500) take care of water extraction and

drinking water supply• The Ministry of the Environment co-operates with private consulting

companies on groundwater mapping• The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland performs scientific

research and development (with other research institutes, NGO´s, private companies etc) and maintains databases

Information, consultation or involvement

Implementing the Water Framework Directive in Denmark• Ministries – new laws and guidances 2004 and forward• Characterisation and analysis 2006• Public hearing ‘Idea phase’ 2007• River Basin Management Plans:

– Preliminary hearing – authorities Jan-March 2010– Public hearing Oct 2010 - April 2011– New public hearing Dec 2011 (appeal)– New public hearing spring 2013

• Programme of measures – end 2013 (municipalities)

Threshold (Groundwater Directive) derived in co-operation with GEUS and others, based on national and international research projects

A perfect world? – well…….

Challenges: Quality issues

Nitrate

Pesticides

Sustainable abstraction ?

Sustainable resource:1 bill m3 pr. year Need 0.6-0.7 – but needs are unevenly distributed ….

Sustainable resource

Abstraction

How can we base our drinking water supply on clean groundwater??

• Legislation dating back to 1926 licensing of water abstraction, protection of water resources and registration of wells

• Environmental legislation starting in the 1960-70s - protection of aot the water environment and in mid 70s on contaminated sites

• Since 1987 three Action Plans on the Aquatic Environment and three on Pesticides

• Surface water abstraction phased out• Rising awareness on effects of groundwater

abstraction on surface water systems

Sound legislation followed by enforcement and monitoring is essential!!Even as important: Active citizens that feel involved and are willing to get involved is necessary!!

WATER SUPPLY:• 7 waterworks (red text)• 56 wellfields (green text• 755 abstraction wells• 376 monitoring wells• 450 ha owned by CE• Abstraction of surface water

in dry periods (closed 2009)• 366 km transport net• 1,100 km distribution net• 50 million m3 water / year• ~1 million consumers

Copenhagen Energy A limited company owned by the municipality of Copenhagen

Recommendations:• A sound, strong and enforced legislation is the backbone• Address all interests and balance these – involvement,

dialogue and scenarios – listen to citizens and experts• Awareness - water is NOT a free, inexhaustible resource• Certified well drilling companies • No abstraction without licenses – surveillance • Map the resource; where, vulnerability and size• Avoid pollution – involve and integrate on relevant

environmental issues• Monitor to avoid unpleasant surprises• Consider climate change• Consider uncertainty and use the precautionary principle

Perfection is impossible with a complex geology beneath our feet!

Be ready to learn and get more wise – and to remediate and improve – be adaptive!

USGS, Howard Perlman & Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.

Thank you for your attention!