About Norwegian Water
Norwegian Water (in Norwegian: Norsk Vann) is a national association representing Norway`s water industry. It acts on behalf of the members, which are mainly municipalities and companies owned by the municipalities. Norwegian Water in total represents approx. 320 municipalities, with 98 % of the population.
Norwegian Water also has affiliated members like consultants, producers, suppliers and educational and research institutions.
Our vision:
Clean Water – our future
Organization of Water and Wastewater Services
In Norway, the provision of water and wastewater services is a municipal responsibility. The Water and Wastewater Services Act (2012) ensures that municipally owned water and wastewater infrastructure cannot be sold to private entities. These services are funded through user fees based on the principle of cost recovery.
Nationally, the sector generates approximately NOK 27 billion in annual revenue. Around 70% of the fees collected by municipalities are used to purchase goods and services from the private sector.
There are about 1,100 water treatment plants and 2,250 wastewater treatment facilities owned by municipalities or municipally owned companies. In addition, there are approximately 870 smaller cooperative and cottage water systems and about 450 wastewater facilities serving areas without municipal coverage. These collective systems supply drinking water to just under 90% of the population and treat wastewater for 85% of the population. The remaining residents live in more rural areas with decentralized or private solutions for water and wastewater.
Municipal Responsibility
Norsk Vann (Norwegian Water) believes that water and wastewater services should remain a municipal responsibility in the future. These services can be organized through a municipal department or agency, a municipal enterprise, a municipally owned limited company, an inter-municipal company, a municipal cooperation entity, or through a host municipality collaboration.
Municipal responsibility means that each municipality decides how to organize its services, within the frameworks permitted by laws such as the Local Government Act. However, the practical organization is also influenced by the nature of the water and wastewater service production chain, which imposes certain requirements and limitations. Ultimately, organizational choices are about determining how tasks are best carried out.
Competence and Quality
In Norway, municipalities and municipally owned companies are primarily responsible for operating water and wastewater services. This is because these services are closely tied to other municipal responsibilities such as urban planning and development, environmental management, fire safety, and emergency preparedness. Operating water treatment facilities is considered particularly critical and is typically kept under direct municipal control, as the service is vital for public health and safety.
An increasing number of municipalities recognize the need to build larger competence environments within the water and wastewater sector. This is essential for ensuring high-quality services, attracting skilled personnel, and addressing challenges in a cost-effective manner. Larger organizational units can be achieved through increased inter-municipal cooperation, including joint ventures, host municipality models, and regional water assistance initiatives.
Organization as a Tool
In most European countries, water and wastewater infrastructure is predominantly publicly owned, although service operations may to varying degrees be outsourced to private entities. Countries such as Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Scotland have legislation mandating public ownership of water and wastewater infrastructure.
Each municipality must take a strategic and informed approach to organizing its water and wastewater services to meet operational requirements and regulatory standards effectively.
Contact us
Norsk Vann is located in the city of Hamar, 90 mins north of Oslo.
You may send us email at post@norskvann.no or call us on +47 62 55 30 30