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 cities and society". A vision is a goal which is so far into the future that it is hardly visible at present. It is a dream of a better future. And DANVA's dream is "Clean water for sustainable cities and society". It is a beautiful dream. But, also a challenging one of its kind. Water (and here we are obviously talking about both drinking water and wastewater) is currently polluted by many different activities and with xenobiotic substances far too many to name. Despite this, in 2020 the water companies are delivering clean water to customers in Danish homes and to recipients in the Danish environment. The companies do so thanks to modern technologies, skilled staff and good management, and they do so at a reasonable price. We intend to continue with this, as dreams are a reflection of reality. But if we are to dream, let us dream of a situation where sustainable cities and society (which, by the way, also comprises the water companies) do not pollute water resources and the aquatic environment at all, or if they do, then only minimally so. The United Nations predicts that by 2050 two thirds of the world's population will be living in urban areas. Already today, cities account for 75 percent of the consumption of natural resources, produce 50 percent of the world's waste and 60 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Its quite obvious that we need to change something. We need to change our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to do away with a linear economic model in favour of a circular one and reuse raw materials, so that we do not accumulate waste and we avoid competing for the same scarce natural resources. And, of course we need to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, so that we do not damage our global and local climate further. The water companies must be part of delivering the green transition through innovation of resource-efficient, digital and holistic solutions within the overall water cycle. New solutions need to be part of developing smart, attractive and (not least) sustainable cities and societies. These will focus on greater efficiencies, energy-optimisation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the production of green and sustainable energy, and the water companies must become energy and climate-neutral and take responsibility for contributing to the ambitious climate objectives set for Denmark. Dreams are a reflection of reality and yet "Clean water for sustainable cities and society" is still a vision. A vision that must be realised through forward-looking and coherent regulation. In the light of ambitious climate objectives, increasing demand for sustainable solutions and the need for a green transition, regulation needs to ensure that efficient water companies can deliver on a number of bottom lines. Regulation must ensure that the water companies are efficient and at the same time create scope for value-creating solutions in relation to day-to-day operations, long-term construction funding and innovative edge. DANVA DANVA Vision Clean water for sustainable cities and societies 2024 Objectives DANVA will work to ensure that the water sector can lead the way towards green transition and create a healthy and sustainable society. DANVA will make Denmark a pioneering country for sustainable water, wastewater and climate solutions. Biodiversity, resource-efficiency and integrated administration of the entire water cycle is prioritised. The water sector is to inspire and motivate others to act locally, nationally and globally. DANVA will support innovation and technological development in the water sector and facilitate cooperation and knowledge exchange both nationally and internationally. DANVA will work to establish the framework conditions needed to realise our vision: Clean water for sustainable cities and societies. DANVA will support the water sectors focus on efficient operations, for the benefit of citizens, society, the climate and nature. The DANVA mission: To unite all actors in the water cycle towards cooperation on sustainable solutions. To strengthen all who ensure consumer trust in water, efficient operations and high security of supply To tell everybody about the value and impact of Danish water solutions that help sustain life and health. www.danva.dk/strategi2024 For now, it is just a dream, but over the next four years we at DANVA will work to turn this vision into reality, and we are also looking forward to working together with our partners over the next four years. WATER IN FIGURES 2020 7 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