Heunicke proposes to counteract groundwater flooding

Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke has proposed a bill to prevent groundwater flooding. The legislation, currently under review, requires wastewater companies to collaborate on solutions to protect areas against groundwater-induced inundations. Municipalities will designate areas where high groundwater poses problems, and companies will install drainage to prevent disasters. The present system leaves individual property owners responsible for flood prevention. The proposed change acknowledges the new climate reality featuring more erratic weather, including rising groundwater levels affecting foundations and basements. The bill also introduces new financing options for wastewater companies. With the groundwater level rising dramatically over the past 30 years, approximately 450,000 buildings in Denmark are at risk. The bill is expected to take effect in the summer of 2025.