New message creates uncertainty: risk taps without water

In cities, more and more citizens and businesses need to have water in the tap, and climate change gives more dry and hot periods where we use more water. At the same time, water supplies across the country find more and more pollutants in the groundwater, so we have less groundwater that we can use.

A new analysis from HOFOR shows that the metropolitan area can already be missing 12 million m3 of drinking water by 2040 if there is certainly enough drinking water for all all year. 12 million m3 is equivalent to more than the entire Odense Municipality’s annual water consumption.

« We are responsible for a million citizens getting water every day. And it must be so that drinking water flows out when they open the tap. But the new figures show that we cannot be sure that it continues. Therefore, it is now possible to act, » points out CEO of HOFOR Henrik Plougmann Olsen.

Restrictions on water consumption

In Denmark, there is a unique tradition of base drinking water on groundwater of good quality. The water supplies pick up the groundwater far down in the ground, and for decades the water has simply been oxygenated and filtered before it is ready for the taps.

There have traditionally been plenty of the suitable groundwater, and therefore the Danes have long taken the drinking water for granted. But they can’t do that in the future.

« It can have major consequences for our cities. At times, there may be a need to impose restrictions on the consumption of both citizens and businesses. Even a few hours of water shortages can be expensive for businesses and difficult for us citizens to get used to, » says Henrik Plougmann Olsen.

The Director of Supply emphasizes that the water coming out of the tap complies with all quality requirements.