WATER IN FIGURES 2020 Discharges of wastewater Over the summer of 2020, there has been a big debate in Denmark on discharges from overflows and treatment plants that enter the aquatic environment. The sewer network is designed to conduct the wastewater from consumers to the treatment plant. This cleans the wastewater before it is discharged into the aquatic environment. Discharges occur when treated wastewater is returned to the aquatic environment, separated rainwater is discharged, and when major downpours occur, potentially via overflow structures (safety valves). If a heavy downpour results in there no longer being enough room for all the water in the sewer, the overflow is meant to ensure that the water is discharged into the recipient instead of backing up into residents' basements via e.g. floor drains. If the water volume that flows down to a treatment plant becomes greater than the latter is designed for, the treatment plant can create a relief/bypass and send the water around the plant's aeration tanks. This is done to prevent large amounts of biological sludge being washed through the treatment plant's final sedimentation tanks and out into the aquatic environment. There are six general types of discharge where nutrients are discharged into the natural environment: Discharge of treated wastewater from the treatment plants Outflows of rainwater Overflow of diluted wastewater from combined wastewater/rainwater systems Emergency overflow from pumping stations Relief/bypass arrangements upstream of treatment plants Planned short-term discharges Discharge of treated wastewater from the treatment plants Approximately 600800 million m3 of wastewater flow into the country's 700 treatment plants during the course of a year. Here, approximately 90% of the nitrogen and phosphorus are removed before the water is returned to the natural environment. Taxes and the wastewater companies' own ambitions to minimise pollution of the aquatic 36 WATER IN FIGURES 2020 environment have resulted in Danish treatment plants generally treating wastewater far better than the discharge requirements set by the authorities. Overall, the treatment plants discharge less than half of the phosphorus and less than 70% of the nitrogen they are permitted to release. Outflows of rainwater In sewer systems where wastewater is kept separate from rainwater, the latter is conducted from roofs, farmyards and roads into its own sewer pipe and discharged into the aquatic environment. Usually, there are requirements to establish a rainwater reservoir, the purpose of which is to regulate and treat the rainwater and thereby protect the recipient from serious adverse effects. Often, the rainwater reservoirs provide a recreational element to local communities. Overflow of water containing wastewater from combined systems During heavy downpours, water volumes can become too great to be managed in a combined sewer system. For this reason, several overflow structures (safety valves) have been designed that can discharge the water into the aquatic environment instead of allowing it to back up into residents' basements. Once the heavy rain starts, the "first flush" is set in motion, which is the water that contains the most wastewater, and flows down to the treatment plants. Subsequently, more and more of the combined sewer may be filled with rainwater, and if this cannot remain there, it will eventually be discharged via the overflow structures. Within an overflow, the water flows through a grating which holds back paper and other large solids. Overflow water is often described as mechanically treated diluted wastewater, and the mean concentration of nitrogen is a little less than 30% of the mean concentration of nitrogen in domestic wastewater. The phosphorus content of overflow water is around 15% of domestic wastewater. Emergency overflow from pumping stations Many pumping stations are built with an emergency overflow which allows the water to run RAIN-RELATED OUTFLOWS These are termed RBU (regnbetingede udløb) in Danish environmental legislation. They cover two types of discharge: Discharge of rainwater from roofs, paved areas and roads from separate sewer systems, and overflows of water containing wastewater from combined sewer systems. off if the pump breaks down a state of affairs which is however extremely rare. Relief/bypass arrangements upstream of treatment plants Treatment plants are designed for a maximum water flow through the plant. This flow must not be exceeded, as otherwise there is a possibility of the active biological sludge being washed out of the aeration tanks, through the final sedimentation tanks, and out into the aquatic environment. To prevent this, treatment plants may have an overflow structure positioned just upstream of the plant or create a bypass e.g. after the mechanical filter and sand/grease trap within the aeration tanks. This water is often referred to as "relief of biologically untreated wastewater". The nutrient levels are lower than with normal wastewater, as it has been mixed with large quantities of rainwater. Planned short-term discharges When conducting short-term renovations of central pipe pumping stations, wastewater companies can apply for a temporary permit to discharge wastewater directly into the aquatic environment, but only after initial mechanical treatment. As a rule, this solution is chosen as a final option in the event there are no other immediate solutions. Such discharges often have very little effect in terms of overall nutrient pollution of the aquatic environment, as they are often of very short duration. DANVA is of the opinion that it should not in future be possible to obtain a permit for direct discharge of untreated wastewater and that the law ought to be changed in this regard. WATER IN FIGURES 2020 BENCHMARKING & STATISTICS Denmark EDITORIAL XXX TEXT: CARL-EMIL LARSEN/ PHOTO: DANVA The water sector as energy and climate neutral T he climate action plan for the water sector emphasises the message that Danish water technology can help find solutions to global climate challenges. The ambition of the political parties behind How much does water cost? Half a litre of drinking water from the tap costs less than 0.48 How much does water cost? and Why does water cost what it does?. These are two good cent questions which DANVA is often asked and they are not that easy to answer. The price of water is not the same through Selected rules, national plans and reforms that have had an impact on the price and water consumption of a family: 1987: Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment I the plan was intended to protect the aquatic environment, both groundwater and surface water. The Action Plan for the Aquatic Environme WATER PRICE Amount for drinking water: 3.22 €/m3 The average water price can be divided into the drinking water company's share and the wastewater company's share, plus VAT and other taxes. The other taxes are a tax on piped water and the wastewater tax. Out of the total water price of € 9.55/m3, WATER PRICE PHOTO: COLOURBOX.DK / GESTUR LEÓ GÍSLASON Household expenditure on water has fallen For an average Danish family of 2.15 people, with an average water consumption of 101 litres per person per day, corresponding to consumption of 79.29 m3 in a year, the household's expenditure on drinki TEXT: LARS THERKILDSEN AND ANGO WINTHER / PHOTO: CARSTEN ANDERSEN AND AARHUS MUNICIPALITY We have A DREAM! LARS THERKILDSEN, ANGO WINTHER, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF DANVA CHAIRMAN OF DANVA D ANVA now has a new strategy with an adapted mission and new vision. The title is Clean water for sustainable THE WATER SECTOR GRAPHIC: DANVA Wastewater basin Climate adaption e.g. detention basin Consumers Water abstraction Waterwork (often underground) Discharged to the environment Pumping station Overflow Afforestation Treatments plant Gabion Dis tri bu tio S ewe r Ra nsm ain i nw at THE WATER SECTOR DEBT ON LOANS TO WATERCOMPANIES BILLIONS € Billions € The outstanding debt on loans to the water sector based on the companies' annual accounts. The data derives from the financial statement balance sheets of all municipally owned water companies, plus Trefor Vand A/S, Verdo Vand THE WATER SECTOR PHOTO: KLAR FORSYNING Economic trends The following economic development graphs include all drinking water and wastewater companies regulated under the Danish Water Sector Reform Act having a billed water volume greater than 800,000 m3. Danish water and wastewater companies are by THE WATER SECTOR ACTUAL OPERATING COST WASTEWATER ACTUAL OPERATING COST DRINKING WATER Billions € 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 The actual operating costs are the part of the operating costs used in the overall financial benchmarking of the Danish THE WATER SECTOR TEXT: JENS PLESNER, DANVA / PHOTO: COLOURBOX.DK NEW REGULATIONS for managing water from cloudbursts Two steps forward and two steps back for climate adaptation! I t is an important task for water companies and municipalities to be being able to manage the large volumes of water THE WATER SECTOR The new regulations contain a number of good suggestions and will be capable of promoting climate adaptation. Unfortunately, however, there are also some elements that may stand in its way. Savings on the water price are prioritised over damage caused by cloudbursts Because they ar THE WATER SECTOR TEXT: ANNELINE HØJRUP, JOURNALIST / PHOTO: KELD NAVNTOFT An energy and climate neutral WATER SECTOR The Climate Action Plan stipulates that the Danish water sector is to lead the way in becoming energy and climate-neutral. To ensure this, a Danish Paris model is being introduced FIGURE: DANVA DRINKING WATER OVERALL LEVEL PURCHASED ELECTRICITY INTERNAL ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY SOLD PURCHASED HEAT/ENERGY INTERNAL HEAT/ENERGY HEAT/ ENERGY SOLD WASTEWATER TRANSPORT OVERALL LEVEL PURCHASED ELECTRICITY PURCHASED HEAT/ENERGY INTERNAL ELECTRICITY INTERNAL HEAT/ENERGY E BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER DRINKING WATER COMPANIES in DANVA Benchmarking and Statistics In 2020, 75 drinking water companies reported data to DANVA Benchmarking and Statistics. The figures shown apply to 2019. Together, the companies have more than 1,885 water abstraction wells, comprising 170 so BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER ACTUAL OPERATING COSTS, 2019 % imported water 0 accounted for € 0.91/m3, and there is a broad agreement that investments will increase substantially in the next two years, reaching an increase of 33% in 2021 compared with the level of investment in 2019. The breakdown BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE ENERGY CALCULATION METHOD ON PAGE 15. The drinking water companies' net- and gross energy NET- AND GROSS ENERGY FOR The aim is for the Danish water sector to be energy-neutral or, even better, energy-positive, which means that the water secto TEXT: MADS VOLQUARTZ, DANVA / PHOTO: LALANDIA, BILLUND WATER IN FIGURES 2020 LARGE WATERPARK will be heated by cold drinking water Ringkøbing-Skjern Forsyning is connecting a water pump to a big drinking water pipe the solution is set to heat the future Lalandia holiday centre in Søndervig. A BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Drinking water quality testing MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY ANALYSES, 2019 Number of corrected microbiological incidents per 1 million m3 water, which responsibilities can be related to the watercompany 0 All drinking water companies undertake ongoing quality checks PHOTO: COLOURBOX.DK / JOHN STICK BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Renewal of the pipe network RATE OF RENEWAL OF DISTRIBUTIONS PIPES, 2019 The pipe network's renewal rate shows what percentage of the pipe network was replaced/renovated in the last year compared with the average per year for the past BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Statement of bursts on the pipe network BURST FREQUENCY ON THE MAINS, 2019 Average age, year 0 A burst pipe in the network will probably mean that there will be customers who do not have water in their taps. This means of course that the companies try to reduce the num TEXT: PETER NORDAHN, VERDO BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Experience gained from a DANVA benchlearning course PETER NORDAHN, VERDO I registered for DANVA's benchlearning course entitled What impacts the costs of drinking water?, as I needed to dig deeper into the details behind our costs. I was loo BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Water loss is dropping again One of the features of Danish drinking water companies is the very low amount of water loss. For the 5052 drinking water companies that have participated in DANVA Benchmarking over the past 9 years, there has been a steady decline in water lo PHOTO: PHOTO: RINGKØBING-SKJERN RINGKØBING-SKJERN FORSYNING FORSYNING BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER NON-REVENUE WATER (WATER LOSS), 2019 Water loss Drinking water companies' calculation of water loss, also known as non-registered consumption, shows significant differences between companies. The com BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER PHOTO: READY SUPPLY You can read more about international infrastructure leak indices on the website www.leakssuitelibrary.com under Global ILIs. Infrastructure Leak Index (ILI) Real water loss can be more accurately calculated and compared through the calculation of t BENCHMARKING DRINKING WATER Customer availability Unplanned interruptions are one of the parameters included in the mandatory performance benchmarking carried out by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, several drinking water companies have begun recording planned interruption SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS TEXT: ANNELINE HØJRUP, JOURNALIST / PHOTO: MARTIN SYLVEST WATER COMPANIES are (maybe) to provide important data for the Danish SDGs In September 2020, the Danish politicians were given 197 targets which, according to experts, should point the way for sustainable devel SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS PRINCIPLES FOR THE DANISH TARGETS it easier for them by presenting measurable data. So, if they like the menu, all they need do is tuck into the food, says Niels Ploug. The SDG for water, SDG 6, has had 15 pages devoted to it in the report. There it is made clear righ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS TEXT: MIRIAM FEILBERG, DANVA / PHOTO AND FIGURE: AARHUS VAND YET ANOTHER STEP towards sustainable water supply in Aarhus Aarhus Vand will be the first water company in Denmark to gain certification under the SDGs A PER BACH, AARHUS VAND. arhus Vand work towards su TEXT: MIRIAM FEILBERG, DANVA PHOTO: BLUEKOLDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS The world's first wastewater turbine is attractively located in the apparently natural setting of the turbine house in the Stenderup forest 50 metres from Lillebælt. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS PROGRESS INDICATORS BENCHMARKING WASTEWATER WASTEWATER COMPANIES in DANVA Benchmarking and Statistics In 2020, 87 wastewater companies reported data to DANVA Benchmarking and Statistics. The reported figures are for 2019. Together, the companies provide services to more than 5 million people and operate 456 treatment PHOTO: SAMN SUPPLY Large variations in actual operating costs It costs an average of € 1.46 to transport and treat 1 m3 of water sold. The variation between individual companies' expenses per m3 is relatively large and reflects the very different framework conditions under which the companies opera BENCHMARKING WASTEWATER The wastewater companies' net- and gross energy The aim is for the Danish water sector to be energy-neutral or, even better, energy-positive, which means that the water sector delivers more energy for the benefit of society than it purchases. Currently the wastewater compani BENCHMARKING WASTEWATER YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE ENERGY CALCULATION METHOD ON PAGE 15. The average weighted net energy consumption per m3 of water sold to consumers is 0.50 kWh/m3, split between 0.38 kWh/m3 for transport and 0.12 kWh/m3 for treatment. The companies purchase, on average, electri WATER IN FIGURES 2020 Discharges of wastewater Over the summer of 2020, there has been a big debate in Denmark on discharges from overflows and treatment plants that enter the aquatic environment. The sewer network is designed to conduct the wastewater from consumers to the treatment plant. This cl WATER IN FIGURES 2020 PHOTO: COLOURBOX.DK / MIC Discharges from treatment plants Initiated by Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment I in 1987, a major upgrade and conversion of wastewater treatment plants in Denmark was launched to improve the treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus prior to discha BENCHMARKING WASTEWATER The companies' sewer network Historically, the first few kilometres of sewer network were built with only one line, where wastewater and rainwater flowed through the same pipe. Later, the design changed to separate sewer systems, which has been the preferred design over the PHOTO: SAMN FORSYNING The transport network's rate of renewal RATE OF RENEWAL OF SEWER PIPES, 2019 Fors Lejre Mølleåværket Gribvand Lolland Ballerup Skive Fors Holbæk Fors Roskilde Langeland Frederikssund Allerød Næstved VCS Mariagerfj. Halsnæs Vestforsyning Gentofte Hedensted Tønder Randers Svend WATER IN FIGURES 2020 PHOTO:: COLOURBOX.DK / ANIMAFLORA PICS-STOCK Shallow groundwater in towns and cities costs society a lot of money Extraneous water is present, to varying degrees, among the various wastewater companies. Conditions such as the origin of the sewer network, groundwater level, so PHOTO: VANDCENTER PHOTO:SYD DANVA Considerable variation in load The volume of extraneous water at a treatment plant, together with the rainwater that flows into combined sewer systems, is compared with the quantity of drinking water sold in the treatment plant's catchment area. The graph shows tha WATER IN FIGURES 2020 TEXT: ANNELINE HØJRUP, JOURNALIST / PHOTO: COLOURBOX WASTEWATER INDICATES CORONAVIRUS earlier than tests It takes typically 9 to 13 days from the time a person is infected with the coronavirus to their testing positive. Conversely, it only takes one day from becoming infecte WATER IN FIGURES 2020 XXX Hospitals and care homes can also use the wastewater test, as can businesses wanting to ensure that they can take action on the disease as early as possible. The test is stated as a Ct value and, by plotting the measurement results on a graph, the test can be used to measu BENCHMARKING WASTEWATER SLUDGE TREATMENT, 2019 The wastewater companies' sludge treatment SLUDGE DISPOSAL, 2019 Biogas produced per ton of dry matter, m3 0 200 400 600 800 1000 Aalborg Vestforsyning Struer Slagelse-Kor Hørsholm Furesø Måløv Rens Mølleåværket Mariagerfj. Køge BIOFOS SCA BIO PHOTO: COLOURBOX as industrial waste. The costs encountered by wastewater companies for processing sludge in their treatment plants represent approximately 15% of the total operating costs of the plants. Over recent years, new sludge treatment options have appeared, such as pyrolysis (thermal decom DRINKING WATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES DRINKING WATER COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING AND STATISTICS 2020 (DATA FOR 2019) Company BASICDATA Inhabitants in the supply area Total quantity of water sold (FS definition) Boreholes (water catchmentsarea) persons m3/year number Di DRINKING WATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES PROCES BENCHMARKING (MAIN KEY FIGURES) Actual operating costs for production, distribution, customer management and general administration in relation to the sold volume of water flow Operating costs of production of water produced at own waterworks Oper DRINKING WATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES DRINKING WATER COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING AND STATISTICS 2020 (DATA FOR 2019) (DATA FOR 2018) Company Inhabitants in the supply area Total quantity of water sold (FS definition) Boreholes (water catchmentsarea) persons m3/year numbe DRINKING WATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES PROCES BENCHMARKING (MAIN KEY FIGURES) Actual operating costs for production, distribution, customer management and general administration in relation to the sold volume of water flow Operating costs of production of water produced at own waterworks Oper WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES WASTEWATER COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING AND STATISTICS 2020 (DATA FOR 2019) Company AquaDjurs A/S (Spildevand) BASIC DATA Inhabitants in the catchment area Sewer system (wastewater and rainwater) Amount of water sold in catchment area (FS WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES PROCES BENCHMARKING (MAIN KEY FIGURES) TARIFFS 2020 (level 1) Actual operating costs for transport, treatment, customer management, and general administration compared to sold volume of water Operating costs to sewer system related to the amount of water so WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES WASTEWATER COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING AND STATISTICS 2020 (DATA FOR 2019) Company BASIC DATA Inhabitants in the catchment area Sewer system (wastewater and rainwater) Amount of water sold in catchment area (FS definition) persons km m3 WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES PROCES BENCHMARKING (MAIN KEY FIGURES) TARIFFS 2020 (level 1) Actual operating costs for transport, treatment, customer management, and general administration compared to sold volume of water Operating costs to sewer system related to the amount of water so WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES TEXT: XXX /PHOTO: XXXX PHOTO: COLOURBOX.DK WASTEWATER COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN BENCHMARKING AND STATISTICS 2020 (DATA FOR 2019) Company Inhabitants in the catchment area Sewer system (wastewater and rainwater) Amount of water sold in catchment area WASTEWATER: BASIC DATA AND KEY FIGURES PROCES BENCHMARKING (MAIN KEY FIGURES) TARIFFS 2020 (level 1) Actual operating costs for transport, treatment, customer management, and general administration compared to sold volume of water Operating costs to sewer system related to the amount of water so KEY FIGURES DANVA, Dansk Vand- og Spildevandsforening (the Danish Water and Wastewater Association), is a national industry and stakeholder organisation for Denmark's drinking water and wastewater companies. You can read more about us at www.danva.dk Information Water in Figures is published by: DA