Water Supply and Sanitation in Sweden: A Public Trust

Abstract

"In Sweden, water supply and sewage disposal are by law a municipal responsibility. Under municipal control and with financial support from the state, intensive construction of treatment plants was carried out during the 1960s and 70s. Today, 95 percent of the wastewater is treated both biologically and chemically and as much as 54 percent also go through special nitrogen removal. Water supply and sewage disposal infrastructure for municipal use encompasses more than 2,000 water works, 67,000 kilometers of water pipes, around 2,000 sewage treatment plants and 92,000 kilometers of sewers. In total, some 6,000 people work in the sector."