Small water supplies in Nordic countries: climate change effects, risks and contingency planning

Climate change (CC) is altering the working conditions for water suppliers. To enhance preparedness, CC has been emphasised in the risk-based approach (RBA) and water safety planning guidelines. We studied how the RBA approach has been applied in small water supplies in the Nordic countries to mitigate CC related risks and impacts. We interviewed small water supply operators and authorities in each country, followed up by government-level queries on guidelines and legislation. We found that small water supplies have experienced consequential incidents associated with a changing climate. Heavy rains, drought, changes in cold climate hydrology, and landslides were most frequently mentioned. Many of the supplies, however, had not experienced any effects, possibly because groundwater is the main water source for small water supplies in the region. Importantly, the effects of a changing climate were scarcely discussed, and CC receives limited or no attention in governmental guidelines. However, in Norway, the CC preparedness was analysed on a municipal level, and Finland and Sweden have tools for CC preparedness, but separately from the RBA. Small suppliers are concerned about over-burdening with multiple guidelines, frameworks, and tools. Therefore, we conclude that CC would be best addressed through integration into RBA and water safety planning regulation and implementation.