Status improvement in water and wastewater fixed facilities: Success and challenges of 11 Swedish water utilities as case studies

Abstract

Reinvestment in water and wastewater (WW) facilities is a challenge for Swedish water utilities. Nationwide, 4% of 184 organizations meet the requirements for a sustainable WW facility status according to the sustainability index (SI), the Swedish benchmark system. Eleven Swedish municipal WW organizations that had improved the status of their facilities were examined and are presented as good learning examples. Managers/strategists of nine of the organizations were interviewed in depth. Our aims were to concretize the used strategies and to clarify success factors and challenges, as well as to support WW organizations that want to improve their results. The nine surveyed organizations showed a clear desire to move toward sustainability. For example, setting aside 1% of the whole replacement value per year for reinvestment (which is embedded in the policymakers’ business plan) and the use of its own staff for construction work significantly aided the Arvika company's goals. All organizations were found to have a 10-year plan for renewal at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels. Five organizations that had made more significant progress also had more specific 3-year plans and were linked to robust economies. New investments came at the expense of reinvestments because all municipalities are expanding.