At our latest event Water-Efficient Society, Karl Jepsson, Product and Strategy Manager at Smartvatten, raised an important topic: the impact of climate change on the water cycle and the increased uncertainty surrounding water availability. An important part of the discussion was the connection between water and energy — two resources that are inextricably linked. This phenomenon is often called the “water-energy nexus”. As the world’s population grows, the demand for both resources increases exponentially, which places high demands on the sustainable management of both water and energy.
Karl emphasized that the energy used to consume water in Sweden is equivalent to two nuclear power reactors. And with a water mains network that is in many places up to 100 years old, sharp fee increases are expected in the future to meet increased demands for water treatment and to pay off the historic maintenance debt.
