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Sweden · Safe water

Safe water in Sweden: notices, drought and what to store

In Sweden your municipality issues boil-water advice. MCF says store 3-5 litres per adult per day; private well owners test their own water.

Updated 2026-10-27· 9 official sources· Läs på svenska

Short answer. In Sweden, your municipality issues a boil-water recommendation (kokningsrekommendation) when tap water may carry bacteria, viruses or parasites 1. Krisinformation.se relays the important ones 23. The civil defence agency MCF says to expect an adult to need 3 to 5 litres of water per day 4. About two million people drink from a private well or other small private supply and are responsible for its quality themselves 7.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

When there is a suspicion that tap water contains bacteria, viruses or parasites that can make you ill, your municipality recommends boiling it before drinking or cooking 1. Check your municipality's website: it is also where you learn whether the municipality is setting out tanks of clean drinking water 1.

Krisinformation.se, run by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency, is the joint channel for crisis information from Swedish authorities and publishes boil-water news, for example for Hallstahammar after coliform bacteria were found 23. It only passes on information that an authority has already published in writing 3, so your municipality remains the first place to look. How official warnings reach you is on our Sweden alerts page.

During a boil-water recommendation, the Food Agency says to boil all water for drinking and cooking until it bubbles strongly, then keep it in clean containers at room temperature or cooler 1. Use boiled water for diluting drinks, making coffee and rinsing raw fruit and vegetables; you may shower, but make sure small children do not swallow water 1. See What to do during a boil-water notice and Do-not-drink notices.

How much water should I store?

MCF says to expect an adult to need three to five litres of water per day, for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene, plus water for pets 4. It suggests freezing water in plastic bottles, without filling them to the top, and checking stored water once or twice a year 4. If water runs short, the municipality may set out water tanks where you collect limited quantities in your own containers 4. MCF's full household list is on our Sweden emergency supplies page; see also Water storage containers.

Is Sweden short of water?

Not in most places, but dry periods cause local shortages. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of Swedish cities is in the "low" category for water stress today and in the 2050 business-as-usual projection, and "medium" for drought risk 9. These are city medians: a given town can sit higher or lower.

SGU and SMHI issue messages on the risk of water shortage, county by county, updated once a week 6. Low groundwater can lead a municipality to ask people to save water or to ban watering 6. Phaenyx found no national register of watering bans: Krisinformation tells you to check your municipality's website 5. Its tips include shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and fixing dripping taps 5. See Drought preparedness.

What if I have a private well?

If you have your own well, you are responsible for the quality of your drinking water and for having enough of it 7. The Food Agency says to test the water at least every three years, and at least once a year if children aged five or under drink it or if the well supplies more than two households 7. After a flood or a forest fire nearby, you may need an extra test 7. Low groundwater can make a well run slowly or dry up 6. See Private well emergencies.

What should I do after a flood?

Flood water can contaminate drinking water with bacteria: check with your municipality that tap water is drinkable 8. Wash your hands carefully after contact with flood water 8. See Water safety after a flood. A household plan can keep your water stock, municipal contacts and warning channels in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Who decides when to boil tap water in Sweden?

Your municipality issues the boil-water recommendation 1. Krisinformation.se relays important ones 23.

Can I shower during a boil-water recommendation?

Yes, but make sure small children do not swallow water, and avoid bathing 1.

How much water for one week?

At three to five litres per adult per day, that is 21 to 35 litres per adult for seven days 4.

How often should I test my well?

At least every three years; every year if young children drink the water or the well serves more than two households 7.

Sources

  1. Livsmedelsverket (Swedish Food Agency) — När du måste koka dricksvattnet — https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/livsmedel-och-innehall/dricksvatten/nar-du-maste-koka-dricksvattnet/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  2. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) — Boil the water in Hallstahammar — https://www.krisinformation.se/en/latest/news/boil-the-water-in-hallstahammar/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  3. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) — How we work at Krisinformation.se — https://www.krisinformation.se/en/about-krisinformation.se/how-we-work-at-krisinformation.se (accessed 2026-10-27)
  4. Myndigheten för civilt försvar (MCF) — Access to water during a crisis — https://www.mcf.se/en/advice-for-individuals/home-preparedness--prepping-for-at-least-a-week/access-to-water-during-a-crisis/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  5. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) — Vattenbrist - så sparar du vatten — https://www.krisinformation.se/din-beredskap/rad-vid-kriser/extremvader-och-naturolyckor/vattenbrist/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  6. Sveriges geologiska undersökning (SGU) — Risk för vattenbrist — https://www.sgu.se/grundvatten/grundvattennivaer/risk-for-vattenbrist/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  7. Livsmedelsverket (Swedish Food Agency) — Egen brunn — https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/livsmedel-och-innehall/dricksvatten/egen-brunn2/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  8. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) — Så skyddar du ditt hus vid översvämning — https://www.krisinformation.se/din-beredskap/rad-vid-kriser/extremvader-och-naturolyckor/oversvamning/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  9. World Resources Institute (WRI) — Aqueduct 4.0 (water stress, 2050 projection and drought risk) — https://www.wri.org/aqueduct (accessed 2026-10-27)

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Sources

  1. Livsmedelsverket (Swedish Food Agency) · När du måste koka dricksvattnet checked 2026-10-27
  2. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) · Boil the water in Hallstahammar checked 2026-10-27
  3. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) · How we work at Krisinformation.se checked 2026-10-27
  4. Myndigheten för civilt försvar (MCF) · Access to water during a crisis checked 2026-10-27
  5. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) · Vattenbrist - så sparar du vatten checked 2026-10-27
  6. Sveriges geologiska undersökning (SGU) · Risk för vattenbrist checked 2026-10-27
  7. Livsmedelsverket (Swedish Food Agency) · Egen brunn checked 2026-10-27
  8. Krisinformation.se (Myndigheten för civilt försvar) · Så skyddar du ditt hus vid översvämning checked 2026-10-27
  9. World Resources Institute (WRI) · Aqueduct 4.0 (water stress, 2050 projection and drought risk) checked 2026-10-27