Denmark's Holistic Model Is to Inspire and Invite The Global Water Sector

In a newly developed district in the north of Aarhus, the use of precious groundwater resources are reduced and rainwater at the same time is used as a supplement to stressed groundwater resources alongside. It shows tha biodiversity, urban life and sustainability can be well combined in a new, climate-adapted framework.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals run as a common thread throughout the theme of the World Congress, “Water for Smart Liveable Cities”, whereby IWA wants to shed light on how smart, holistic and liveable urban solutions enable people to adapt to climate change, while simultaneously reinforcing the quality of life in the cities. This Danish solution approach takes advantage of synergies between various players and intelligent systems, which can be the key to achieving the objectives.

According to Helle Katrine Andersen, chairperson of IWA Denmark and head of DANVA’s Secretariat, the IWA Congress constitutes an important milestone for global knowledge sharing and new common agendas.

“We cannot find solutions to today’s and the future’s global challenges alone, which is why the IWA Congress is important to all participants regardless of their competence and experience. The Congress creates a platform where people can meet across countries and continents and exchange knowledge, experience and solutions. It is my hope that the Congress will provide a basis for new international partnerships and solutions that can fulfil the sustainability goals towards 2030,” says Helle Katrine Andersen.

And it is exactly many examples of partnerships that are observed in the Danish water sector. The water companies in an ever increasing number of Danish cities cooperate closely with municipalities, research institutions as well as private enterprises in order to incorporate water into urban planning, and this has resulted in an ocean of innovative hi-tech solutions forming the cornerstone of new urban spaces and sustainable Danish cities. Eight good examples on the following pages describe the potential of the “Water for Smart Liveable Cities” theme that can serve as a source of inspiration for the world.

They constitute a pick of many Danish water solutions that have been created in cross-sectoral cooperation between public and private organisations.