Minister reports 25 municipalities for offenses: « It’s deeply critical »

As a crucial step to protect Denmark’s precious drinking water, a broad majority in the Folketing on May 21, 2025, adopted a bill which obliged the municipalities to prohibit the use of pesticides in the vulnerable drilling protection areas.

As part of the law, a time limit was set for the work on the conclusion of voluntary agreements on December 31, 2024. If an agreement was not concluded before the deadline, the municipalities were obliged to issue an injunction or ban on commercial use of pesticides by March 1, 2025.

It writes the Minister of Environment and Equality in one press release.

Today, on April 1, the deadline for registration of the municipalities’ ban expired and it is clear that several municipalities are obviously still not working to ban pesticides near drinking water wells. In total, 25 municipalities have only protected between 0 and 19 per cent. of the vulnerable drilling protection areas, 11 of which have not protected a single BNBO.

And it now has consequences. Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke today asks the National Board of Appeal to decide whether supervision cases can be raised against the following 25 municipalities: Fanø, Fredericia, Faaborg-Midtfyn, Ringsted, Greve, Ishøj, Hvidovre, Egedal, Furesø, Frederikssund and Hillerød and Aalborg, Rebild, Thisted, Haderslev, Odense, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Lolland, Kalund, Lolland, Kalund, Lolland, Kalund, Odsherred, Sorø, Stevns, Køge, Solrød, Roskilde and Lejre.

« It is deeply critical. There are zero good arguments for gambling with our drinking water, and I am amazed that 25 municipalities have ignored environmental legislation at the expense of our drinking water. It is deeply critical and must not go unseen. Our drinking water is an invaluable resource, and it is a matter of course for the Danes that we can open to the male and drink the water without being afraid of the water without content. ” says Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke and continues: