Saudi Delegation Studies Water Efficiency in Denmark
A Saudi Water Authority delegation completed a study programme in Denmark focused on managing water supplies, reducing network losses and recovering resources from wastewater.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Utilities
A delegation from the Saudi Water Authority, joined by representatives from SHARAKAT and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, completed a study programme in Denmark. The visit connected Saudi decision-makers with Danish government bodies, utilities and technology providers.
Why it matters
The programme focused on regulation, technology and long-term planning for water-loss reduction and energy efficiency in wastewater treatment. Participants discussed how technical specifications and efficiency standards could be incorporated into future water infrastructure projects.
Denmark's average non-revenue water rate stood at 7.5% according to its Water in Figures 2025 report. The extraction does not provide a Saudi comparator, and the planned follow-up cooperation has not yet produced confirmed results.
The players
Saudi Water Authority
The Saudi Water Authority is the national body responsible for water management in Saudi Arabia, and its delegation led the study programme in Denmark.
Danish Industry
Danish Industry is a Danish business organisation that hosted a roundtable with the delegation on localisation, procurement and partnerships.
DANVA
DANVA is the Danish Water and Wastewater Association, which hosted a session examining national benchmarking and performance reporting.
The details
The delegation visited Hillerod Forsyning, HOFOR and Aarhus Vand, and met technology companies including AVK, Grundfos, Alfa Laval, GL-TURBO and Water ApS. A roundtable hosted by Danish Industry explored localisation, procurement and partnerships, while a DANVA session examined national benchmarking and transparent performance reporting.
Timeline
2025: Denmark publishes its Water in Figures 2025 report, which includes the 7.5% non-revenue water rate.
- 2026-11-02
The article reporting on the study programme is published on Utilities Middle East.
Market Landscape
The programme sits within a broader push for water-loss reduction and efficiency across national utilities, with Denmark's published benchmarks serving as a reference for other countries. Its follow-up workshops and pilot projects would extend that exchange into Saudi infrastructure planning.
For consumers, the efficiency and loss-reduction work discussed could eventually influence how water is priced and delivered through utility networks. The extraction does not confirm any near-term changes to service or rates.
The takeaway
Denmark's approach to measuring and publicly reporting network losses offers a practical model for utilities seeking to cut water waste. Adopting transparent benchmarking is one concrete step other water authorities can take.
What happens next
WEMA and its partners plan technical workshops in Saudi Arabia and will assess opportunities for joint pilot projects and bilateral partnerships, though no dates have been confirmed.
Further reading
Explore more on Utilities coverage for context on how water and energy providers are managing efficiency and loss reduction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Utilities Middle East.
