2025-04-022024/25:FöU4 · p.20FöUDefence

Water supply and wastewater treatment

Climate-proofing drinking water supply and sewage systems for crisis preparedness

What's at stake: The decision affects how resilient water and sewage systems become against heavy rainfall, drought and other climate effects, and how quickly deferred maintenance and the need for new reserve water sources are addressed. It concerns the whole population's access to clean drinking water, especially in a crisis, as well as the municipalities responsible for the networks.

Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.

What the vote decides

The question is whether Sweden needs to accelerate investment and legislative change to climate-proof water and sewage systems and secure drinking water supply for crises and war, or whether the inquiries and initiatives already under way within supply preparedness are sufficient.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee rejects the motions calling for stricter climate adaptation of the water supply. It maintains that a functioning supply-preparedness system, including for drinking water and sewage, is highly important, but points out that the government has already decided on several inquiries and assignments in the area and that food and drinking-water supply is specifically prioritised within civil defence, and therefore sees no reason to go beyond the work already under way.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 31 (MP)

The reservation (MP) calls for speeding up work to climate-proof water and sewage systems, including legislative changes allowing funds to be set aside for long-term investment, protection of water sources and groundwater, more wetlands and reserve water sources, and clearer inter-agency cooperation on sewage and stormwater. The reasoning is that flooding and drought are becoming more common, that water and sewage networks are under-maintained, and that clean water is critical for survival.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 31 by MP.

Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.

The decision would have gone the other way

Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, SSocialdemokraterna

Ja 224–16Nej 118–122

Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.

What each plan points to — and how the party voted

For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
VNoYes 20/0/0/4departs from the planconfidence: highderived
SNoYes 93/0/0/13departs from the planagainst own programmeconfidence: highexplicit
MPown reservationNoNo 0/16/0/2follows the planconfidence: highexplicit
CNoYes 20/0/0/4departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
LNoYes 13/0/0/3departs from the planagainst own programmeconfidence: highexplicit
KDNoYes 17/0/0/2departs from the planconfidence: mediumderived
MNoYes 60/0/0/8departs from the planconfidence: mediumderived
SDNoAbstain 0/0/62/10departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:1318 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) claims 1 and 5, 2024/25:1382 by Mikael Eskilandersson et al. (SD) claims 10, 12 and 13, 2024/25:2627 by Elin Söderberg et al. (MP) claims 21 and 23, 2024/25:3037 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) claims 143 and 146, and 2024/25:3038 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) claim 26.

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1318 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 5, 2024/25:1382 av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 10, 12 och 13, 2024/25:2627 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 21 och 23, 2024/25:3037 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 143 och 146 samt 2024/25:3038 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 26.

Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 100 proposals concerning society's crisis preparedness in motions from the general motion period 2024. The proposals deal, for example, with crisis preparedness, cybersecurity, radiation safety and protection against accidents. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing work within the areas covered by the proposals.

Counter-proposals

Plan vs actual vote

Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.

VVänsterpartietNoYesdeparts from the planderived

The plan requires conscious and comprehensive work for rich ecosystems with restored nature, and that drained wetlands are restored.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan requires conscious and comprehensive work for rich ecosystems with restored nature, and that drained wetlands are restored. The counter-proposal's requirement for faster climate adaptation of water and sewage networks, protection of water sources and more wetlands is the same thing applied to drinking water. The plan also emphasizes that climate measures are acute and that investments in society's core functions are at the heart of civil emergency preparedness.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver ett medvetet och heltäckande arbete för rika ekosystem med återställd natur, och att torrlagda våtmarker återställs. Motförslagets krav på snabbare klimatanpassning av vatten- och avloppsnäten, skydd av vattentäkter och fler våtmarker är samma sak tillämpad på dricksvattnet. Planen betonar dessutom att klimatåtgärderna är akuta och att investeringar i samhällets kärnverksamheter är kärnan i krisberedskapen.

  • comprehensive ecosystem workdecisive»Sverige behöver också ett medvetet och heltäckande arbete med att skapa goda villkor för rika ekosystem, bland annat genom att återställa natur och kompensera för förlorade naturvärden.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden also needs conscious and comprehensive work to create good conditions for rich ecosystems, including by restoring nature and compensating for lost natural values.”
  • restored wetlands»torrlagda våtmarker som läcker utsläpp ska återställas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“drained wetlands that leak emissions shall be restored”
  • robust civil emergency preparedness»Investeringar i samhällets kärnverksamheter, gemensamt ägande i nyckelsektorer och medvetna strategier för landets ekonomiska utveckling är viktiga delar av det.« (party programme ↗)“Investments in society's core functions, collective ownership in key sectors and deliberate strategies for the country's economic development are important parts of that.”
  • urgent climate investments»Behovet av massiva investeringar i klimatåtgärder, infrastruktur och jobb är stort och akut, men effektiva politiska åtgärder dröjer, samtidigt som klimatförändringarna får konsekvenser redan nu.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The need for massive investments in climate measures, infrastructure and jobs is large and acute, but effective political measures are slow in coming, while climate changes are already having consequences now.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

SSocialdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the planexplicit

The election manifesto explicitly commits to strengthening preparedness for extreme weather with continued major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally, and to strengthen civil defence and crisis preparedness.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto explicitly commits to strengthening preparedness for extreme weather with continued major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally, and to strengthen civil defence and crisis preparedness. Climate adaptation of water and sewage systems against flooding and drought is exactly such a measure. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att stärka beredskapen mot extremväder med fortsatta stora investeringar så att kommunerna kan klimatanpassa lokalt, och att rusta upp det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen. Klimatanpassning av vatten- och avloppssystem mot skyfall och torka är exakt en sådan åtgärd. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav.

  • climate adaptation in municipalitiesdecisive»Stärk beredskapen mot extremväder. Annars riskerar skyfall att svämma över städer, torka slå ut hela skördar och skogsbränder att breda ut sig. Vi vill fortsätta de stora investeringarna så att kommunerna kan klimatanpassa lokalt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen preparedness for extreme weather. Otherwise, flooding risks inundating cities, drought destroying entire harvests, and forest fires spreading. We want to continue major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally.”
  • strengthened civil defence»Arbetet att förstärka det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen måste fortsätta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work of strengthening civil defence and crisis preparedness must continue”
  • clean water for future generations»frisk luft och rent vatten, hållbart klimat och biologisk artrikedom« (party programme ↗)“clean air and clean water, sustainable climate and biological diversity”
  • stable climate policy framework»Det klimatpolitiska ramverket ska ligga fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate policy framework must remain fixed.”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.

MPMiljöpartietNoNofollows the planexplicit

The plan explicitly demands strengthened protection of drinking water sources and functioning emergency water sources, faster restoration of wetlands and investments in climate adaptation.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan explicitly demands strengthened protection of drinking water sources and functioning emergency water sources, faster restoration of wetlands and investments in climate adaptation. The counter-proposal's demand for climate-adapted water and wastewater systems, protected water sources, more wetlands and emergency water sources is the same thing in substance. Therefore the plan supports the demand.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver uttryckligen stärkt skydd av dricksvattentäkter och fungerande reservvattentäkter, snabbare återställande av våtmarker och investeringar i klimatanpassning. Motförslagets krav på klimatanpassade vatten- och avloppssystem, skyddade vattentäkter, fler våtmarker och reservvattentäkter är samma sak i sak. Därför stöder planen kravet.

  • protect drinking water sourcesdecisive»stärka skyddet av våra dricksvattentäkter och se till att det finns fungerande reservvattentäkter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen the protection of our drinking water sources and ensure that there are functioning emergency water sources.”
  • invest in climate adaptation»investera i klimatanpassning för att möta effekterna av klimatförändringarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest in climate adaptation to meet the effects of climate change.”
  • restore wetlands faster»återställa våtmarker som torrlagts i snabbare takt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“restore wetlands that have been drained at a faster pace.”
  • reduce society's vulnerability»värmeböljor kräver ett arbete med klimatanpassning för att minska samhällets sårbarhet.« (party programme ↗)“heat waves require work with climate adaptation to reduce society's vulnerability.”
CCenterpartietNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan commits to strengthening civil defence and society's preparedness for crisis and war, and establishes that access to clean water is a fundamental right.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan commits to strengthening civil defence and society's preparedness for crisis and war, and establishes that access to clean water is a fundamental right. The counter-proposal wants to speed up climate adaptation of water and sewage systems, protect water sources and establish more wetlands, which lies close to the plan's commitment to restored wetlands and saved watercourses. The plan also emphasizes that swift climate action pays off while inaction becomes expensive. The plan therefore supports the requirement.

Original (Swedish)

Planen åtar sig att rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför kris och krig, och slår fast att tillgång till rent vatten är en fundamental rättighet. Motförslaget vill skynda på klimatanpassningen av vatten- och avloppssystemen, skydda vattentäkter och anlägga fler våtmarker, vilket ligger nära planens åtagande om restaurerade våtmarker och räddade vattendrag. Planen betonar också att snabba klimatåtgärder lönar sig medan passivitet blir dyr. Planen stöder därför kravet.

  • strengthen civil preparednessdecisive»Även det civila försvaret är livsviktigt. Vi måste rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil defence is also vital. We must strengthen civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis.”
  • clean water a fundamental right»Tillgång till rent vatten, ren luft och giftfri miljö är en fundamental rätt för alla människor« (party programme ↗)“Access to clean water, clean air and a toxin-free environment is a fundamental right for all people”
  • restore wetlands»Mer måste göras för att restaurera våtmarker, bekämpa invasiva arter och underlätta för markägare att bidra« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done to restore wetlands, combat invasive species and facilitate landowners' contributions”
  • swift climate action pays off»Snabba, konkreta åtgärder för klimatet lönar sig« (party programme ↗)“Swift, concrete climate action pays off”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

LLiberalernaNoYesdeparts from the planexplicit

The party programme stipulates that everyone has the right to clean water and that drinking water supply must be secured and more water sources protected.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The party programme stipulates that everyone has the right to clean water and that drinking water supply must be secured and more water sources protected. The election manifesto wants to restore more wetlands, and the plan requires societal planning for the consequences of climate change. Accelerating climate adaptation of water and wastewater thus follows the plan, as does that civil defense shall be strengthened at the same rate as military defense.

Original (Swedish)

Partiprogrammet slår fast att alla har rätt till rent vatten och att dricksvattenförsörjningen måste säkras och fler vattentäkter skyddas. Valmanifestet vill återställa fler våtmarker, och planen kräver samhällsplanering för klimatförändringarnas följder. Att skynda på klimatanpassningen av vatten och avlopp följer därför planen, liksom att det civila försvaret ska stärkas i samma takt som det militära.

  • secured drinking water supplydecisive»Alla har rätt till rent vatten. Dricksvattenförsörjningen måste säkras« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to clean water. Drinking water supply must be secured”
  • restore more wetlands»Den naturliga koldioxidinlagringen ska stärkas genom att fler tidigare våtmarker återställs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Natural carbon dioxide storage shall be strengthened by restoring more previously wetland areas.”
  • planning for climate effects»Det behövs samhällsplanering för att klara klimatförändringarnas« (party programme ↗)“Societal planning is needed to manage the consequences of climate change”
  • strengthened civil defense»det civila försvaret stärkas i samma takt som det militära« (2022 manifesto ↗)“civil defense is strengthened at the same rate as military defense”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.

KDKristdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the planderived

The plan tasks total defence with managing disasters and preventing such risks, and points out clean water as one of the most threatened renewable resources.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan tasks total defence with managing disasters and preventing such risks, and points out clean water as one of the most threatened renewable resources. The precautionary principle applies when there is suspicion of irreversible damage. To expedite climate adaptation of water and sewage, protect water sources and establish more wetlands follows from this.

Original (Swedish)

Planen ålägger totalförsvaret att kunna hantera katastrofer och att förebygga sådana risker, och pekar ut rent vatten som en av de mest hotade förnybara resurserna. Försiktighetsprincipen gäller när det finns misstanke om oåterkallelig skada. Att skynda på klimatanpassningen av vatten och avlopp, skydda vattentäkter och anlägga fler våtmarker följer av detta.

  • preparedness for severe strainsdecisive»delta i hanteringen av katastrofer och andra svåra påfrestningar i samhället samt att delta i förebyggande åtgärder för att begränsa riskerna för sådana.« (party programme ↗)“participate in managing disasters and other severe strains on society and participate in preventive measures to limit the risks of such.”
  • clean water threatened resource»betes- och jordbruksmark, till rent vatten och ren luft« (party programme ↗)“pasture and farmland, to clean water and clean air”
  • precautionary principle»också att agerandet grundas på försiktighetsprincipen.« (party programme ↗)“also that action is grounded in the precautionary principle.”
  • wetlands preserved»Våtmarker behöver bevaras och vid behov återställas,« (party programme ↗)“Wetlands need to be preserved and where necessary restored,”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

MModeraternaNoYesdeparts from the planderived

The counter-proposal demands that climate adaptation of water and sewerage systems be accelerated and that water sources and backup water be protected.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal demands that climate adaptation of water and sewerage systems be accelerated and that water sources and backup water be protected. The plan commits to investing in water purification and advanced water purification, ensuring long-term planning for civil defence, and building better emergency stockpiles, since a functioning civil defence is a precondition for total defence. The demand is in line with these commitments, so the plan supports it.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslaget kräver att klimatanpassningen av vatten- och avloppssystemen skyndas på och att vattentäkter och reservvatten skyddas. Planen åtar sig att satsa på vattenrening och avancerad vattenrening, att säkra en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret och att bygga bättre beredskapslager, eftersom ett fungerande civilt försvar är en förutsättning för totalförsvaret. Kravet ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden, varför planen stöder det.

  • expanded water purificationdecisive»Satsa på forskning om vattenrening samt utbyggnad av avancerad vattenrening« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in research on water purification and expansion of advanced water purification”
  • long-term civil preparedness»Säkra en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure long-term planning for civil defence”
  • civil defence crucial»Fungerar inte det civila försvaret så kan inte heller det militära försvaret lösa sina uppgifter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If civil defence does not work, military defence cannot solve its tasks either.”
  • strong civil defence»Tryggheten i Sverige förutsätter också ett starkt civilförsvar« (party programme ↗)“Security in Sweden also presupposes a strong civil defence”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

SDSverigedemokraternaNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan requires society to analyze and plan for various types of major crises and that self-sufficiency in critical supplies can quickly be scaled up during prolonged disruptions; drinking water and sewage are such critical supplies.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan requires society to analyze and plan for various types of major crises and that self-sufficiency in critical supplies can quickly be scaled up during prolonged disruptions; drinking water and sewage are such critical supplies. The plan also establishes that our waters are vital and that municipalities should be given increased support in environmental work. The requirement for accelerated climate adaptation and protection of water sources is therefore supported by the plan.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver att samhället analyserar och planerar för olika typer av stora kriser och att självförsörjningen av kritiska förnödenheter snabbt kan skalas upp vid långvariga störningar; dricksvatten och avlopp är sådan kritisk försörjning. Planen slår också fast att våra vatten är livsnödvändiga och att kommunerna ska ges ökat stöd i miljöarbetet. Kravet på påskyndad klimatanpassning och skydd av vattentäkter stöds därför av planen.

  • planning for major crisesdecisive»Analysera och planera för olika typer av stora kriser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Analyze and plan for various types of major crises”
  • increased supply readiness»Sveriges självförsörjning av energi, livsmedel och medicinskt material behöver öka och snabbt kunna skalas upp vid långvariga störningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's self-sufficiency in energy, food and medical material needs to increase and quickly be able to scale up during prolonged disruptions.”
  • water's vital importance»Våra vatten är livsnödvändiga för att möjliggöra liv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our waters are vital to enable life.”
  • support for municipal environmental work»Kommunerna måste ges ökat stöd och hjälp i miljöarbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Municipalities must be given increased support and help in environmental work.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

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Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament