vattenmyndigheterna

Vattenmyndigheterna, or the water authorities, is the collective term for the regional bodies in Sweden that are responsible for managing and protecting the country’s surface water and groundwater resources. They operate within the framework of Swedish environmental legislation and the European Union’s Water Framework Directive.

Their responsibilities include monitoring and assessing the ecological and chemical status of water bodies such as rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater. They prepare river basin plans and program of measures aimed at achieving and maintaining good status for water bodies, identify priority pollutants, and implement actions to reduce pollution and restore aquatic habitats. The authorities also administer permits and licenses related to water use, discharges, dredging, and other activities that affect water bodies, and they designate protective zones around drinking water sources.

In terms of organization, the water authorities work regionally while aligning with national policy. The central coordination is provided by Havs- och vattenmyndigheten (HaV), the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, together with Naturvårdsverket (the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency). HaV sets national objectives and coordinates data collection, while the regional authorities translate these into local actions and plans in cooperation with county administrations and municipalities.

Impact and scope of the vatten myndigheterna include contributing to sustainable water use, biodiversity protection, and resilience to climate change, as well as improving public health through protection of drinking water sources. Their work supports Sweden’s compliance with national and EU water legislation and provides data and guidance to the public and other stakeholders.