Municipal wastewater - KOSTRA, 2003

The requirements given to the treatment plants in different areas of the country varies substantially. Heaviest requirements are given to plants in the North Sea counties (from Østfold to Vest-Agder) in order to make it possible for Norway to fulfil the obligations towards the conservation of the North Sea marine environment.

96 per cent connected to high grade treatment plants in the North Sea counties

Norway has invested heavily in efficient treatment facilities in the North Sea counties since the beginning of the nineteen eighties. Today 96 per cent of the population in this area is connected to treatment plant with chemical or biological-chemical treatment. Norway has already reached the target of a fifty per cent reduction of the discharges of phosphorus to the North Sea with 1985 as a baseline. Norway is still below the target for reduction of nitrogen, but the treatment efficiencies have showed a positive trend the last couple of years. Outside the North Sea counties the needs for treatment are substantially lower, and only 29 per cent of the population in this area is connected to chemical or biological-chemical treatment plants.

Altogether 2 285 wastewater plants (including direct discharges) were reported for 2003, of which 1 871 were owned by the municipalities. In urban areas of southern Norway inter-municipal ownership are common. Small plants designed for less than 50 persons are still common in areas with scattered population. Large shares of these plants are individual plants not connected to the municipal sewer system. 81 per cent of the country's population is connected to the municipal sewer system.

30 per cent of the sewage sludge used as fertiliser

Altogether 30 per cent of the sewage sludge produced by the treatment plants was used as fertiliser in agricultural fields, parks and other green areas in 2003. Last year 40 percent was used. Far most was used for these purposes in the North Sea counties (nearly 50 per cent of the produced sludge), where the country's largest agricultural areas are situated. Only 16 per cent of the produced sludge was used for the same purposes outside the North Sea counties.

The figures presented above must be considered as preliminary, and may be adjusted in the final publication later this year on the discharges and treatment in the municipal wastewater sector 2003.

Investment increases again

Investment in the municipal wastewater sector was 1 857 million NOK in 2003, which is an increase of 6.4 per cent in relation to 2002. In the previous two years there was a slight decrease in investment, but this trend now appears to have changed. The investments in the sewer network account for the majority of the investment in this sector. Investments in wastewater treatment facilities increased 18.7 per cent from 2002 to 2003.

...but annual costs are steady

In 2003, total annual costs were 4 280 million NOK, which is an increase of only 1.5 per cent in relation to the year before, but slightly less than the peak in 2001.

... and the municipalities subsidize wastewater services

The media often focuses on municipalities collecting more fee income than they can, according to regulations. Statistics for the wastewater sector show, however, that on a national basis the annual costs have been higher than the income from fees for the entire time series for these statistics. The municipalities covered the deficit through other financing sources. In 2003, the average cost coverage ration was 100 per cent.

See also : KOSTRA: Municipal water supply, 2003

See also: http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/00/20/kostra_en/

Tables:

• Table 1 Municipal wastewater sector. Investment, costs, fee income, and cost coverage ratio, by county. 2003
• Table 2 Wastewater treatment fees, for a private dwelling of 120 m2, by county. 2004. NOK