Great work – we've moved from a critical to a serious water supply situation!

The prolonged heatwave that has swept over Norrbotten has played a major role. When the temperature rises, water usage increases—for personal hygiene, garden watering, and filling pools. The high consumption has strained the municipality’s capacity. There is access to raw water, but the waterworks struggle to produce and deliver fast enough when many people use a lot of water at the same time. Additionally, firefighting efforts have required extra resources, which further affects availability.

To ease the drinking water network, the municipality uses river water from the Lule River to water plantings and green areas. This allows clean tap water to be saved for the most important needs—such as drinking, cooking, and hygiene.

Boden Municipality’s drinking water comes from groundwater. The water is of very high quality and is clean and healthy, but production is sensitive during periods of high consumption because the capacity is not unlimited. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to work together to conserve this valuable resource.

Your everyday changes—shorter showers, paused pool fillings, less watering—have had an effect. You show that care and cooperation work, and that as a municipality we can make a big difference when we all pull in the same direction.

This is the current situation

The situation is still serious, but significantly better than before. This is thanks to our joint efforts. At the same time, we want to be clear: we still need to be smart in how we use our water.

Of course, you should:

• Drink water – especially in the heat
• Water flowers in windows and indoors
• Give animals and pets access to water

But avoid:

• Watering lawns
• Washing the car
• Wasting the clean and healthy food-grade water we have in our taps

We’ve already shown we can make a difference, let’s keep going in the same direction!

Brief history of water supply in Boden

Up to 1988 – More or less trouble-free water supply with river water as raw water, which was purified and used as drinking water.
1988 – Outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.
1989–1999 – Investigation of alternatives to river water as a raw water source.
2000 – Groundwater begins to be used as raw water. During high consumption peaks, river water was added.
2013 – The O-Ringen event leads to new technology for safer capacity and quality.
2014 – From this year, only groundwater is used as raw water. River water is phased out.
2017–2018 – The “Water Savers” campaign is launched – residents are encouraged to save water.
2019–2024 – High levels managed without public appeals.
2020 – Boden Municipality wins the contest “Norrland’s Best Tasting Tap Water.”
2025 – The “Water Savers” campaign returns. Information is spread more widely and receives media attention.