A Vision for Water Research and Innovation Agenda for the Water Sector in Sweden
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DRICKSVATTEN A VISION FOR WATER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA FOR THE WATER SECTOR IN SWEDEN A VISION FOR WATER 1 PREFACE A Vision for Water is a strategic research and innovation agenda developed by stakeholders in the Swedish water sector, with the goal of establishing more sustainable water and wastewater systems in Sweden and contributing to more sustainable water and wastewater services abroad. A Vision for Water is a joint declaration of the direction the water sector should take, but it does not preclude the stakeholders from reaching even further during the period covered by the Vision. A Vision for Water should be seen as a starting point for further cooperation between the industry, actors in the public sector, universities, research institutes and other organisations involved in the innovation chain for sustainable water systems. A Vision for Water should guide Vinnova, Formas and other agencies funding Swedish research and innovation in water and wastewater services. It is also directed to politicians at different levels of governance, and to water professionals within government departments and in national, regional and local agencies. A Vision for Water has been funded by Vinnova and participating organisations. The research and innovation agenda has been drawn up under the leadership of the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (Svenskt Vatten), the trade organisation for municipal water and wastewater utilities, in collaboration with the National Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket), the Drinking water research program DRICKS at Chalmers University of Technology, Wastewater Technology South (VA-teknik Södra) at Lund University, Water and Wastewater Cluster Mälardalen (Uppsala University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Mälardalen University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU, IEA at Lund University of Technology, JTI – Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering), Stormwater&Sewers (Dag&Nät) at Luleå University of Technology, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Institutes within RISE (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Acreo Swedish ICT, Corrosion and Metal Research Institute Swerea KIMAB), VARIM, Sydvatten and Ecoloop. A list of the organisations that have contributed to this effort can be found on p 70. Stockholm, June 2013 (published in English in September 2014) Daniel Hellström Manager Research and Development, Swedish Water and Wastewater Association Editorial group: Daniel Hellström, Swedish Water and Wastewater Association, Please quote the content Frida Pettersson, Urban Water Management, Annelie Hedström, Luleå University in A Vision for Water, but of Technology, Thomas Pettersson, Chalmers University of Technology remember to cite the Chief Editor: Birgitta Johansson, Primula Ordval source. Graphic Design: Lupo Design Illustrations: Pertti Salonen Cover Photo: Shutterstock Press: Kaigan, 2014 2 A VISION FOR WATER CONTENTS 04 OUR AIMS WITH A VISION FOR WATER GLOSSARY OF WATER TERMS WATER IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 10 Water source Global water challenges Water challenges in Sweden Groundwater or surface waters used as the raw water sources for a water 15 CHALLENGES FOR SOCIETY AND AREAS OF INNOVATION treatment plant. 16 Safe drinking water supply from water source to tap Problems and challenges Raw water Vision Water entering the first treatment Goals for the years 2020 and 2050 process of a water treatment chain. Areas of innovation Need for coordination and collaboration Water treatment plant Swedish strength areas Facility that treats raw water to a safe 28 Climate and environmentally adapted stormwater management drinking water standard. for an attractive urban landscape Problems and challenges Pipe network Vision The pipes and other appurtenances in Goals for the years 2020 and 2050 the distribution and collection networks Areas of innovation that convey drinking water from the Need for coordination and collaboration water treatment plant to the customers, Swedish strength areas and sewage from the customers to the 40 Climate- and resource-efficient wastewater systems for a sewage treatment plant. good environment Problems and challenges Wastewater Vision A common term for sewage, which may Goals for the years 2020 and 2050 be combined with stormwater. Areas of innovation Need for coordination and collaboration Stormwater Swedish strength areas Rainwater that runs off natural surfaces or paved surfaces such as roads, roofs 52 An effective value chain Driving forces in the value chain and parking lots. Measures for a more innovative value chain Sewage 63 ANTICIPATED EFFECTS IF A VISION FOR WATER IS REALISED Wastewater from households, busines- ses and industries. 69 A VISION FOR WATER – THE WORKING PROCESS Wastewater Treatment Plant A facility where sewage and sometimes stormwater are treated and where resources such as nutrients and energy can be extracted and utilised. Receiving waters A water body, into which treated or untreated stormwater and sewage are discharged. A VISION FOR WATER 3 OUR AIMS WITH A VISION FOR WATER The water sector’s common agenda for research and innovation will create opportunities for innovative and sustainable solutions for water challenges in Sweden and globally. It will strengthen Sweden’s international competitiveness in the water sector and help boost export opportunities for Swedish companies. This will be achieved through new, long-term and in-depth national and international collaboration and mobilisation. VISION ”Swedish research, innovation and cooperation among the partners in the water sector shall create sustainable and globally competitive water services, products and system solutions protec ting human health and the environ ment in Sweden and around the world.” 4 VATTENVISIONENA VISION FOR WATER THE VISION GOALS FOR THE WILL LEAD TO: YEARS 2020 AND 2050 • Swedish actors will have world leading In order to realise our vision we, the positions. The water sector is an excellent actors within the water sector, have environment for research and innovation based on good collaboration between established a number of goals that different stakeholders. show our position in the years 2020 and 2050 in the areas of safe water • Innovative Swedish solutions for the water supply, climate- and environmentally sector will have a leading position in the international market and contribute to safe adapted stormwater solutions as well drinking water, sustainable stormwater as climate-adapted and resource- solutions and resource-efficient waste- efficient wastewater treatment. water treatment that reduce our impact on the environment. Detailed goals can be found for each section later in the document. We have also agreed on • Everyone in Sweden – from the individual to a number of overarching goals. municipal and commercial activities – has access to long-term safe drinking water of a high quality and in sufficient quantity. OVERARCHING GOALS: There are services and products adapted to a changing climate for better protection of • Society’s water challenges are met both in water sources and safer processing in the Sweden and globally: safe drinking water in water treatment plant. sufficient quantity, sustainable stormwater solutions and resource-efficient waste- • There are climate-adapted water systems water treatment for a better environment. in cities designed to utilise rainfall as a resource, and treatment of stormwater • Swedish actors within the water sector create is achieved with as little environmental new solutions that are commer cialised and impact as possible. established on the world market. We will see significant export successes that create • Wastewater systems can reduce their many new jobs in Sweden and promote discharges of pollutants, despite a changing vigorous technological development in the climate, so that the goal of good ecological area. and chemical status can be achieved in the groundwater and in receiving waters • Strong innovation structures and active including the seas, lakes and watercourses. marketing efforts have ensured a leading Additionally, wastewater systems contribute Swedish position on the international market. to greater resource efficiency through the recovery of biogas, nutrients and water. • The value of water in society is made visible for citizens and politicians. This has led to raised awareness and improved resource efficiency and environmental awareness. A VISION VATTENVISIONEN FOR WATER 5 INNOVATION AREAS WE WILL REACH THIS BY: A Vision for Water identifies the potential • Innovative Swedish companies develop new for a number of innovation areas. solutions that are marketed and sold There is an opportunity for Swedish nationally and internationally. This is achieved through close collaboration solutions to become international between academia, government agencies, models to a much greater extent than municipalities and private companies in an currently and to contribute to meeting environment where companies implement the future global challenges in water results from reserach and innovation. supply and sanitation. • We build more, larger and more sophisticated test- and demonstration Sweden should possess the best possible solu- facilities for demonstration of new solutions. tions for water and wastewater management in both dense urban settings and decentralised, • Authorities formulate clear, credible, long- rural dwellings. Resource efficiency and low term and effective directives guiding the emissions and discharges are