Bremen – October 30, 2026 -- At current reinvestment rates, fully renewing Europe's drinking water networks would take between roughly 90 years in Belgium and 1,000 years in Finland, according to a new study by engineering consultancy Sweco.
The study, titled "Old Pipes, New Pressure" (German: "Alte Rohre, neuer Druck"), uses EurEau investment data from 2026 and reported network lengths. It finds that spending levels alone do not show whether networks are being renewed at a sustainable pace.
EU water sector faces a EUR 23 billion annual investment gap
The European Commission puts the yearly investment gap in the EU water sector at EUR 23 billion. European utilities already spend about EUR 52.5 billion a year on drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Rising demand, deteriorating water resources and inflation are keeping investment growth from keeping pace.
Per-capita investment ranges from about EUR 37 in Latvia to EUR 335 in Norway, against a European average of EUR 82.
Germany's renewal cycle of 166 years exceeds pipe lifespans by two-thirds
Sweco calculates about 330 years for Lithuania and 250 years for Poland. Several other countries land between 120 and 200 years. For Germany the estimate is roughly 166 years, well above the technical service life of about 100 years commonly assumed for ductile cast iron pipes.
Sweco argues that assets should be prioritized by condition, urgency, failure consequences, climate risk and system performance rather than age alone.
Norway loses over 3,500 cubic meters of water per kilometer of network annually
Non-revenue water, meaning treated water that generates no income through leaks, metering errors or unbilled use, varies widely. Denmark loses fewer than 500 cubic meters per kilometer of network per year, while Norway loses more than 3,500. The study describes leak reduction as one of the most cost-efficient resilience measures, since preventing losses is usually cheaper than sourcing and treating additional water.
Study sets out four transitions and seven measures for investors
The four transitions are:
- from renewal to resilience;
- from individual assets to systems;
- from fixed to adaptive solutions;
- from data to digitalization and AI, with integrated cybersecurity.
Seven concrete measures range from risk-based prioritization to choosing the right investment timing.
Digital models cut projected discharges by 90% on Jersey
On Jersey, an integrated digital model of wastewater and surface water systems showed that untreated discharges into St Aubin's Bay could fall by 90% while 8,000 new homes are built. In Värnamo, Sweden, the Smart Water Home platform combines operational, flow, water-level and energy data to identify pumping stations that are less energy-efficient than comparable ones. At the Setterich wastewater plant in Germany, dynamic process modeling pointed to additional sensors and adjusted control strategies, avoiding major capital spending.
Efficiency gains at 30,300 EU treatment plants could save 5.5 TWh a year
The EU has more than 30,300 municipal wastewater treatment plants. Efficiency improvements alone could save over 5.5 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, roughly the yearly consumption of one million Swedish households.
The study also covers climate risk, micropollutants and water reuse. Its project examples include the new Emscher sewer and drinking water security for 1.4 million people in South Holland.