Where does tap water in Denmark come from?
From underground wells to your glass
Short answer
Danish tap water comes from groundwater: 99.9 % of the country's drinking water is pumped up from underground. The capital area gets its water from 48 well fields spread from Hillerød to Ringsted and Køge. HOFOR pumps up about 54 million m³ a year and sends it to eight large waterworks. There the water is aerated and run through sand filters before it goes into the pipes.
Why
- Groundwater is filtered naturally by the soil layers.
- Copenhagen's wells lie outside the city, across Zealand.
- Aeration and sand filters remove iron, manganese and gases.
Details
On its way through the soil, the groundwater picks up natural salts and minerals.
Tip
In the capital area, HOFOR customer service answers questions about your water on 3395 3395.
What may differ
Treatment differs between waterworks; some add UV light as an extra safety step.
Common misconception
Many people think city water in Denmark comes from lakes or the sea.
What actually happens
Nearly all of it is groundwater pumped up from wells.
People also ask
- Can you drink tap water in Denmark?
- Is chlorine added to Danish tap water?
- Why is tap water hard in Copenhagen?
Sources
- Danish Nature Agency: Clean drinking water, 9 initiatives (2015)Checked at:
- HOFOR: How we produce drinking waterChecked at:
- HOFOR: What the drinking water containsChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Opening hours, prices and services change, so check the official sources before you go.
Tap water in DenmarkRelated questions
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What time do shops close on New Year's Eve in Denmark?
Under the Danish shop closing act, shops may not sell to customers after 15.00 on New Year's Eve (31 December).
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Are shops open on Christmas Eve in Denmark?
Christmas Eve (24 December) is a closing day under the Danish shop closing act, just like Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
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Which shops can open on public holidays in Denmark?
The shop closing act lets several types of shops open on public holidays and other closing days.
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Which days are shops closed in Denmark?
Under the shop closing act, shops must close on New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Sunday and Monday, Constitution Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.