Antisjø

Antisjø is a term used in Norwegian hydrology and land management to describe actions and structures designed to reduce or prevent waterlogged conditions in soils and landscapes. The concept centers on controlling surface and groundwater in areas that are prone to standing water, with the aim of maintaining workable soil conditions and protecting ecosystems and infrastructure.

Typical antisjø measures include drainage networks such as channels and conduits, water-level management through pumping or controlled sluice gates, and land grading to improve soil aeration. In coastal or low-lying inland areas, antisjø projects may also involve shoreline drainage, levees, and other forms of water control to reduce the intrusion of excess water during high-water events. The overall goal is to prevent the accumulation of excess moisture, which can hamper agriculture, reduce soil fertility, and increase flood risk.

The term derives from the Norwegian components anti- (against) and sjø (sea or lake), reflecting its purpose of counteracting aquatic saturation in land areas. Antisjø practices have historical roots in the modernization of agriculture and land development in Norway and other parts of Scandinavia during the 19th and 20th centuries, when drainage and water management became central to expanding arable land and stabilizing built environments.

See also: drainage, land reclamation, hydrology, agricultural engineering, flood management.

Further reading is available in general works on agricultural drainage and coastal water management in northern Europe.