A holistic and integrated approach to urban water management

Improved urban water management promotes the green transition

The project ‘Water Smart Cities’ has over the last four years researched in urban water management. The research has shown that the green transition and the environment will benefit from improved water management with increased digitisation.

Water for smart liveable cities

Good water management can make cities healthier places to live, resilient towards climate change and more sustainable overall. Without proper sanitation, sewerage and clean water supply, there is no liveable city. This white paper features lessons learned from different Danish stakeholders within urban water management. It is meant to serve as a tool for inspiration for creating innovative water solutions, which contribute to smarter and more liveable cities.

May 12, 2020

Analysing wastewater can detect second wave of COVID-19 outbreak

The wastewater from Denmark’s largest wastewater company, BIOFOS, is part of a groundbreaking research project at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) that will provide valuable knowledge on how the coronavirus spreads.

March 24, 2020

New EU rules aim to ensure better drinking water and less waste

New EU directive map out how drinking water quality and supply can improve across the EU. Denmark has helped to focus on water waste in the revised EU directive aimed at ensuring consumers healthy and clean drinking water.

April 30, 2018

3 examples of holistic urban solutions: a water & climate adaptation perspective

Our cities are growing and so is the need to make them more sustainable and liveable. In this month’s article, we gather 3 examples of holistic urban solutions from a water and climate adaption perspective that contribute to creating liveable cities.

October 18, 2019

One year to go: IWA World Water Congress 2020 in Copenhagen

With only one year to go until the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition takes place in Copenhagen, now is the time for you to contribute with your work to shape the global water agenda.

The Soul of Nørrebro – A New Model for Climate Adaptation and Cloudburst Management

A new model for climate adaptation and cloudburst management

The Aarhus River Project – improved water quality and flood prevention in one

We have reopened the cased Aarhus River so that people are once again able to enjoy the open water areas in the centre of Aarhus. The opening of the river is also an important part of Aarhus Vand’s project about flood prevention and preventing wastewater from overflowing into lakes, streams and bay. The Municipality of […]

Harbour baths as catalysts for urban development

The first swimming facility in the Copenhagen Harbour area opened in 1785 and throughout the 19th century several more were established.

September 17, 2019

New climate screen in Copenhagen can absorb rainwater and reduce traffic noise

A completely new type of climate screen that combines rainwater management and noise reduction is ready to be tested at one of Copenhagen’s busiest roads with 45,000 vehicles per day.

June 25, 2019

New lab will help to save billions of litres of water

New Danish water lab will scrutinise whether computer models and algorithms are really saving water. This might have worldwide impacts for water efficiency and security.

May 08, 2019

Danish-Vietnamese partnership reveals an affordable route to saving water and energy in Vietnam

A new study by a Danish-Vietnamese partnership underlines how water supply companies in developing countries can implement sustainable water technology to curb water losses.

August 06, 2019

Refrigeration plants and flood warning to mitigate climate impacts in developing countries

Two partnerships with Danish participation are supported by P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – to find solutions to curb the consequences of climate change in Africa and Asia. The solutions are based on new technology and local cooperation in developing countries.

Reducing urban water losses

25-50% of all distributed water globally is lost or never invoiced due to illegal connections, inaccurate billing systems, inaccurate metering, leakages, deteriorating infrastructure and wrong water pressure management etc. – or in short Non-Revenue Water (NRW). This white paper examines how water utilities can improve efficiency and meet future demand for water by reducing Non-Revenue Water.

Turning wastewater into green energy

Produce more than you use: In Denmark’s third largest city, VCS Denmark has turned wastewater treatment into of source of energy – producing enough electricity and heat to supply the entire company.

Nature Based Solutions

Good rainwater management can make cities healthier places to live, resilient towards climate change and more sustainable overall. Population growth and urbanisation, floodings as well as more frequent and longer periods of droughts all encourage an optimised use of rainwater in cities. Traditionally speaking, climate adaptation seeks to lower the risks posed by the consequences of climate […]

Unlocking the potential of wastewater

On a global scale, less than half of all wastewater is collected and less than one fifth is treated. This has led to severe environmental degradation of many inland and sea waters around the world. This white paper provides lessons learned from Danish stakeholders within wastewater treatment.

Urban innovation for liveable cities

A holistic approach to sustainable city solutions

Bathing water quality in the harbour requires a modern sewer system

Copenhagen is one of the few cities in the world where you can safely bathe in the harbour. This is largely owing to the extension and upgrading of the sewer system that has taken place in the recent years. Among other things realized through closing of many of the outlets where combined sewer overflow was previously discharged in connection with heavy rain. Instead, large tanks have been set up for collection and delay of the wastewater, and control of sewer system and wastewater treatment plants has been introduced.