When water is in short supply

Thanks to an ample supply of high-quality water, water consumption has not really been an issue in Sweden. However, recurring dry spells and water shortages in parts of the country are making it high time to reconsider how we use our water.

Saving water doesn't have to entail large-scale technical solutions as even small changes can make a big difference

First mapping – then proposals for measures

Once the way in which water is used has been looked into, it is time to identify possible measures for improvements.

– "Here, it's important that everyone in the organisation is involved. Saving water doesn't have to entail large-scale technical solutions as even small changes can make a big difference," says Sjöstrand.

– "Our report includes a checklist that you can use. Brainstorming meetings are also useful and usually result in many different ideas. These can then be whittled down to a more manageable number of suggested measures."

These measures can aim to prevent water losses, reduce water use or even completely eliminate the use of water in certain areas of operations. They can also involve reusing or recycling water.

Prioritization necessary

However, perhaps not all of the suggested measures can be implemented. Instead, it will be necessary to prioritise investments. In this case, there are several different decision support methods that can be used to evaluate and compare the various measures. The aim is to ensure that the prioritised measures maximise the benefits to both the company and society while also being good alternatives in terms of sustainability.

– "Not all companies conduct all these steps. A restaurant, for example, can make a quick investment in more water-efficient dishwashers without the decision needing to be preceded by a more comprehensive analysis. And, naturally, it's a good thing that we can approach the issue in this way too," comments Sjöstrand.

So, how can municipal and regional authorities help companies in their efforts to achieve more efficient and sustainable water consumption?

– "One obvious answer is to provide information and to strike up dialogues on the available options as well as the costs and benefits of different measures to both companies and society. Authorities also have the option of using various instruments to increase the incentives for companies to work with these matters and to overcome any obstacles to implementation," Sjöstrand ends.