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Is clean water an issue?

Water is a basic necessity of life which we use in many ways: for drinking, bathing, washing, industrial processes, irrigation and recreation. But for much of the world, water is all too often unclean, threatening both human health and the environment. Providing clean water is a major challenge for the global community.

In Denmark today, clean water is taken for granted. But it has not always been so. In the past, vast quantities of effluent from agriculture and industry drained into our streams, lakes, harbours and the surrounding sea. It took a great deal of political will and years of focused legislation, research, innovative technology and investment, as well as popular acceptance and a willingness to take on the task and make change happen. But it has paid off. Today we drink clean water directly from the tap. And people can safely bathe – even in the harbour of our capital Copenhagen!

Campaign for quality
Denmark’s long campaign to improve water quality has involved many separate initiatives: cleaning waste water and sewage, regulating and reducing the use and thus the discharge of fertilizers from agriculture, banning the use of chemicals that endanger groundwater, cleaning up deposits of dangerous substances from former times.

The gains are massive, both to the economy and the wellbeing of Danish citizens. Denmark is now among the world leaders in several key environmental technology areas including water treatment, systems for regulation, management and monitoring of water resources and quality, environmentally sound sewage and sanitation, fish farming technologies and slurry separation.

Tackling global issues
Ongoing efforts will enable Denmark not only to ensure effective implementation of EU legislation in the water area, but also to play a significant role in tackling global issues in water quality. The World Health Organization estimates that close to 4,000 children die from water-borne diseases every day, while UN figures show that more than 1 billion people are still without access to clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion people have no access to proper sanitation. The UN’s stated aim is for these figures to be halved by 2015.

Partners for progress
As part of the Danish government’s action plan for eco-efficient technologies, a Water Partnership has been established to provide a market-driven innovation platform that brings together Danish companies, research institutions, organisations and public authorities with key competencies in water supplies, including purification and reuse.

The overall objective for the Water Partnership is:

To identify and develop new business opportunities in conservation, purification, reuse and management of water both in Denmark and internationally
To help establish development and business partnerships between Danish players in the water area
To gain environmental advantages from the developed concept solutions

MORE INFORMATION
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)
Water supply in Denmark [PDF]
The Port of Copenhagen – from a heavily polluted industrial port to a clean and thriving aquatic environment [PDF]

Related Case: Swimming in Copenhagen
In Copenhagen – the capital city of Denmark – one of the trendiest spots is the public outdoor swimming facility in the Islands Brygge area where Copenhageners come to relax during the summer.