Danish innovations in water sector keep pollution at bay

In Denmark, tap water is as pure as spring water and the sea off city harbours are clean enough to swim in. How is that so?

by Tan Cheng Li

WHEN it comes to good examples of managing water resources, Denmark comes to mind. The country is touted as a world leader in the water sector, and it must be doing something right – its water consumption has dropped almost 40% since 1980. Its treated water is of such high quality that everyone drinks straight from the tap; there’s even a national competition for the best-tasting tap water. And its non-revenue water is a mere 7% (Malaysia’s is over 30%).

These achievements are derived from: charging consumers the real cost of water; “save water” campaigns; and a strong focus on reducing leakage in water pipes. Also, mandatory benchmarking against best practices in the industry has driven innovative and cost-effective ways to manage water and wastewater.