Water tariffs should be doubled in Sweden in 20 years: report

Over the next 20 years, water and wastewater tariffs need to double in Sweden to cover future maintenance and expansion costs, according to a new report issued by the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (SWWA) on Tuesday.

"This report clearly shows that major investments are needed and that they must start now," Anna Linusson, managing director of SWWA, said in a statement issued on the association's website.

Currently, Sweden invests nearly 1.4 billion U.S. dollars a year in municipal water and sewerage infrastructure. To ensure clean water in the future, the annual investment should be increased 35 percent over 20 years, the report said. To cover that cost, SWWA proposed doubling water and wastewater tariffs.

"The report's calculations are based on an increase over 20 years, but the immediate needs are even bigger than 35 percent," Linusson said.

Higher tariffs will help cover the cost of improving existing pipes and expanding services into new areas.

"The worst-case scenario is that we cannot deliver safe drinking water and meet the environmental demands. We will have difficulty expanding into and servicing new areas and a hard time meeting international standards," Linusson said.

The report was presented at SWWA's annual water meeting in Karlstad, Sweden, on Tuesday. Endit