In English

The Swedish Water & Wastewater Association, SWWA, was set up by the municipalities in 1962 to assist with technical, economic and administrative issues and to represent the interests of the municipalities in negotiations with authorities and other organisations on regulations etc.

One of the first duties of SWWA was to collect and evaluate statistical data. Other obligations are the compilation of recommendations and guidelines and the arrangement of seminars and short courses for the members. SWWA has several ad hoc working groups with experts from member municipalities covering the whole field of municipal water and wastewater activities.

SWWA publishes a journal, newsletters and reports. The association is a member of the European Union of National Association of Water Supplies (EUREAU) and administers the national secretariat for the International Water Association (IWA). At present, SWWA has all 290 municipalities as its members. In other words it is no exaggeration to claim that SWWA well represents the national municipal units for water and wastewater. The membership fees, the size of which depends on the population of the municipality, are the basis for the activities within SWWA and this fee is put on the water tariff, which means that the consumers pay.

The office is situated in Stockholm and employs approx 16 persons. Another of SWWA's obligations is to not only initiate but also to sponsor research and development within the field. On a voluntary basis the municipalities contribute SEK 1,40 per person and year. As practically all municipalities are members, this generates SEK 9 million a year for applied research within the field. Several studies have been undertaken and 230 reports issued. This fee, like the membership fee, is also put on top of the water bill by the municipalities, which means that the consumers or end users of the facilities finance the research and development that is needed. On an international level SWWA promotes the dissemination of Swedish know-how.

We have a short presentation in English, see attached pdf-file.