Sabotage of the water supply has been identified as a potential security threat, including by the military’s intelligence agency Must. As drinking water is a food, it is the Swedish Food Agency that has drawn up the regulations that different water facilities must be protected. But it is the municipal water companies themselves that make the risk assessments and choose measures accordingly.
– It is about physical protection in the form of fences, locks, alarms and in some cases camera surveillance and surveillance. It is work with a very high priority across the country, says Birger Wallsten, drinking water expert at the trade association Swedish Water.
Over 1,000 water towers
In Sweden, there are roughly 1,500 waterworks, where drinking water is produced, and roughly 1,000 reservoirs – in everyday terms, water towers. They are often located in isolated places and in recent years there have been encroachments.
In addition to that in Bollnäs, also in Hofors and Robertsfors and there have also been drone flights over certain facilities. Despite being critical infrastructure, it is not practical to monitor every meter of water pipes. Especially as the cost would end up on consumers’ water bills.
– According to the legislation, you have to push for the resources that are needed, and water and sewage is not tax-financed but tax-financed.
Trespassing in Finland
In Finland, a series of breaches occurred during the summer, but no similar increase has been noted in Sweden. In 2018, the Safety Protection Act was tightened and with it the Swedish Food Agency’s requirements for protection level. A work that, according to Birger Wallsten, continues:
– I have worked on the issue for a long time and compared to the 90s, security is significantly better. At that time, the door of the waterworks was open and all you had to do was walk in. That is no longer the case, Swedish drinking water is safe.