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- Title
The Swedish model for groundwater policy: legal foundations, decision-making and practical application.
- Authors
Lewis, Jeffrey; Sjöström, Jan; Höök, Malin; Sundström, Bo
- Abstract
Public policy concerning groundwater is often complex, with diverse competing interests. With many countries facing similar challenges, it is instructive to examine the policy approaches that have and have not worked abroad. This article contributes to an international exchange of ideas on how best to approach these common problems by explaining how Sweden regulates its groundwater resources. From constitutional foundations to the practical details associated with applying existing policy, a synopsis is provided of groundwater jurisprudence in Sweden. Multiple governmental agencies are involved with groundwater policy in Sweden; this decentralized approach is probably a function of the natural abundance of clean aquifers throughout the country. Historically, the easy accessibility of high-quality groundwater made it a low priority in the context of environmental policy. It has simply never been an economic necessity to control groundwater resources through a single, unified governmental agency. Sweden is lagging behind many industrialized countries when it comes to implementing policies that protect and manage groundwater. Despite this, there are elements of Sweden's approach that are highly innovative and possibly unique globally and which therefore merit discussion.
- Subjects
SWEDEN; GROUNDWATER; DECISION making; JURISPRUDENCE; INTERNATIONAL cooperation on water supply; GOVERNMENT policy
- Publication
Hydrogeology Journal, 2013, Vol 21, Issue 4, p751
- ISSN
1431-2174
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10040-013-0966-3