Denmark managed to reduce the curve through a combination of greatly increased water prices (including green taxes), water saving campaigns, more water efficient technology in households and industry, and a reduction of water loss from the mains supply.
This has been possible because of the political will to introduce unpopular increases in pricing and green taxes.
It has also been crucial that the Danish water supply is owned by consumers and therefore does not have to pay dividends to shareholders. Instead, it can run campaigns for water savings and invest in economically unprofitable renovations of the mains.
The result is that Danish water consumption is significantly lower than in most comparable countries, while the loss through the mains is less than 10 percent, when in many countries it is over 50 percent.
There is ample opportunity for other countries to copy parts of the unique Danish model of success and take advantage of low-hanging fruit.
It ‘only’ requires the political will to introduce and enforce sensible water management strategies.
Dr Jens Christian Refsgaard
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