Debate: As Politicians Celebrate, Gotland Faces a Water Crisis
During the summer, water consumption on Gotland nearly doubles. The County Administrative Board of Gotland raised the alarm as early as April about historically low water levels, which are usually reached in June, writes Andreas Nypelius, Carl Fredrik Graf, and Mikaela Johnsson.
DEBATE. Water supply is not a local issue. It is a crucial matter for all of Sweden. Without water, not only agriculture but also tourism, industry, and ultimately the entire Swedish economy come to a halt. Everyone gathering in Visby during Almedalsveckan to discuss growth and competitiveness has a responsibility to also address the water situation on the island.
When decision-makers, opinion leaders, and business executives gather in Visby during Almedalsveckan to discuss topics like growth, innovation, and sustainability, Gotland faces an acute water crisis. This is not a utopian future scenario but the reality here and now.
On Gotland, the water shortage is currently so severe that the region has entered a state of emergency. Water pressure has been reduced, a municipal irrigation ban is in place, and the region has closed the e-service for drinking water collection points. All this is happening as a high-intensity summer awaits for tourism, business, and especially vegetation.
When rain is absent or downpours occur, it is immediately noticeable in agriculture, industry, and our societal systems.
During the summer, water consumption on Gotland nearly doubles, according to the region. In a few days, the year's largest political event, Almedalsveckan, will begin, expected to fill Visby with over 30,000 visitors. Just the temporary guests can consume over 8 million liters of water in four days.
The County Administrative Board of Gotland raised the alarm as early as April about historically low water levels, which are usually reached in June. A record dry spring combined with early snowmelt and lack of precipitation has depleted the groundwater reservoirs on Gotland. These problems are particularly noticeable on a tourist destination like Gotland. But the problem does not stop on the island.
Water issues exist in large parts of the country. Climate change leads to more unpredictable precipitation, but our water systems are not equipped for either longer dry periods or more frequent downpours.
Sweden's water infrastructure is like an invisible bloodstream that we all depend on but few think about until it stops working. Much like the internet. It involves everything from pipes, ditches, and dams to waterworks and regulations. Much of it was built for a completely different climate and has not been updated in decades. Today, it's like trying to run a modern company with 50-year-old technology, very difficult and very expensive.
Costs Millions
In just the past eight years, extreme weather has cost Swedish agriculture between 10 and 15 billion kronor. Money that could have been spent on investments in environmental measures, increased self-sufficiency, and strengthened competitiveness for Swedish agriculture.
When rain is absent or downpours occur, it is immediately noticeable in agriculture, industry, and our societal systems. And that is why the business community must be involved in driving modernization and collective responsibility for the issue.
To address the problem, the Federation of Swedish Farmers has initiated the Water Commission, an independent investigation tasked with developing concrete proposals for how Sweden can build a future-proof and climate-adapted water infrastructure. The goal is to create a vision by 2026 for how we modernize a system that is currently both fragmented and outdated before the crises worsen and water becomes a permanent growth obstacle.
The situation on Gotland this spring and early summer should be a wake-up call for all of Sweden. It highlights the more unpredictable water quantities that all of Sweden needs to manage due to a changed weather pattern.
Therefore, more companies, industry organizations, and decision-makers need to step forward and contribute to solutions. The Federation of Swedish Farmers and the Water Commission welcome more voices, perspectives, and collaborations. Together, we can create a modern water infrastructure that strengthens Sweden's resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability. Almedalsveckan is an excellent opportunity to start that conversation and to show that the business community takes the water issue seriously.
By Andreas Nypelius
Chairman, Federation of Swedish Farmers Gotland
Carl Fredrik Graf
Chairman, Water Commission
Mikaela Johnsson
Vice Chairman, Federation of Swedish Farmers