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Water scarcity is not only about drought and climate change. A significant share of Sweden’s treated drinking water is lost before it ever reaches consumers. By protecting our pipeline networks against corrosion, we can reduce leakage, extend infrastructure lifespan, and make better use of our water resources.
Throughout spring 2026, warnings about water shortages in southern Sweden have become increasingly frequent. The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), and Sydvatten have all reported unusually low groundwater levels following several dry years, and residents across the region are now being encouraged to conserve water.
At the same time, while households are urged to take shorter showers and turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, another often invisible problem remains hidden beneath the surface.
A significant portion of the drinking water that is produced never reaches end users. Instead, it is lost through leaks in ageing water distribution systems.
In many municipalities, this amounts to substantial volumes of water every single day. The causes vary, but one of the most common is corrosion in steel pipelines and other metallic piping systems. As pipes deteriorate, cracks, holes, and leaks develop, often continuing undetected for long periods of time.
In regions such as southern Sweden, where groundwater levels are already at historic lows, this issue becomes even more serious.
Many of these problems could be significantly reduced through better corrosion protection. Cathodic protection is a well-established method for protecting metallic pipeline systems against corrosion. It can be applied both to existing structures, where it can completely halt ongoing corrosion, and to new installations from the outset.
By controlling the electrochemical corrosion process, pipe deterioration can be effectively stopped, helping to:
Cathodic protection is already widely used in sectors such as oil and gas pipelines, ports, offshore facilities, and water and wastewater systems.
Despite this, large parts of Sweden’s water infrastructure still suffer from corrosion-related problems that result in unnecessary water losses year after year.
When discussing water scarcity, the focus is often on reducing water consumption. While this is important, it is only part of the solution. Equally important is protecting the water we have already produced.
As climate change continues to place increasing pressure on our water systems, the condition of our underground infrastructure will become ever more critical. Ultimately, water scarcity is not only about how much water is available — it is also about how much we are able to preserve.
