Skip to content

Perspective

Wastewater treatment

Wastewater management

Wastewater-to-energy

+1

Tap into Danish water expertise

In Denmark, we value our water. We care for how we extract it, use it and release it back to nature. We consider water a valuable resource in the circular economy and a contribution to reaching our energy and climate goals. Above all, we value water for its potential to improve lives.

Download our publication on unlocking the potential of wastewater

Discover our white paper on how to use wastewater as a resource while protecting people and ecosystems.

Explore the publication

Let’s protect our drinking water

Everyone deserves water that is clean and safe to drink. In Denmark, our drinking water is sourced entirely fro groundwater. Our strategy is to protect our groundwater resources and in return, our drinking water only receives minimal treatment. Most waterworks simply pump, filtrate and distribute it to the consumers. We monitor it carefully and work to secure clean groundwater for future generations.

Let’s care for every drop

Water is a scarce resource – and every drop counts. We must make the most of the water we have. In Denmark, we have low levels of water consumption. Benchmarking measures performed by DANVA based on major water utilities in Denmark show that the average Dane consumes just 100 litres a day, our water loss is less than 7 percent and our industries are increasingly focusing on water efficiency and reuse in their production. The price is based on full cost recovery, which ensures a reliable and efficient water supply 24 hours a day. Now let’s fight to make every drop count worldwide.

Let’s use our wastewater as a resource

Wastewater should no longer be thought of as a problem. Instead, let’s turn our wastewater treatment plants into energy and resource recovery facilities, where we can extract phosphorous and produce organic fertiliser and biogas. In Denmark, we also aim to utilise wastewater even further up the value chain to produce products such as biofuels and bioplastics.

Let’s move towards an energy and climate-neutral water sector

Water plays a key role in creating a sustainable world. It is important to make sure our water management is sustainable as well. In Denmark, we use a minimum of energy to pump and treat water. We work continuously to be energy efficient and we contribute to a greener and more flexible energy system by producing energy from wastewater. In fact, some facilities are now producing more electricity than they consume. By 2030, the Danish water sector aims to be energy and climate-neutral across the entire water cycle.

Let’s use rainwater to create resilient and liveable cities

Rainwater can improve urban life if it is managed wisely. In Denmark, we store and delay rainwater and stormwater in parks, streets and football fields to create both resilient and liveable cities for a growing population. By doing so, we adapt to the changing climate and weather patterns as well as increase our biodiversity. So, while we may not be fans of rainy days, we appreciate what rainwater can do for us.

Let’s swim in our city harbours

Water can be used actively in urban development. Waterfront areas and blue-green infrastructure can transform neighbourhoods and create economic growth. By treating
our wastewater and managing our stormwater in underground basins, we have transformed polluted inner-city harbours into urban oases. So that when the weather permits, you can go swimming in the harbour in Danish cities.

Let’s collaborate and solve the global water challenges

We want to connect, inspire and learn from each other in global partnerships – and work together to contribute to a more sustainable world. Water is one of our most valuable resources and it plays into many other agendas such as adapting to and mitigating climate change and increasing biodiversity. Through national and global partnerships across sectors, we can deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals on water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities and life on land and underwater.

Water is life. And with the right care for water, we can make better lives.

Dive into Denmark's water value chain

From water treatment and supply to wastewater management and environmental conservation, the Danish water sector encompasses it all. Dive into our digital visualisation of Denmark’s water value chain and discover companies and organisations that specialise in water-related technology, research and innovation.

Explore the world of water

You should consider reading

Wastewater management
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater-to-energy
Water management

publications

Power-to-x

+11

Green hydrogen is Danish hydrogen

19 September 2023
Get a full overview on how hydrogen can produce green fuels for transport and industry, create value for electricity supply and the electricity grid, and deliver heat for district heating - provided the input is green energy.

solutions

District cooling

+13

Smart combination of district cooling, district heating and waste water in Taarnby

3 April 2020
Denmark is well-known for smart sustainable energy solutions in cities harvesting the synergis of sector integration. Taarnby Forsyning can in 2020 start operation of a unique energy plant, including

News

P4G

+11

P4G announces new climate-focused partnerships

3 October 2024
The global platform for green partnerships, P4G, have unveiled 12 new climate startup partnerships poised to transform food, water and energy systems across South America, Asia and Africa.