Water Infrastructure Investment and Project Pipeline in Copenhagen

Executive overview

Key findings

DKK 1,595 million: HOFOR investment in Copenhagen's water and wastewater in 2025 (actual), up from DKK 952 million in 2023; DKK 1,609 million forecast for 2026

DKK 26.5 to 27.1 billion: estimated construction cost (2025 prices) of BIOFOS's future treatment plants, by scenario; principle decision due 13 November 2026

DKK 1.9 billion: estimated value, excluding VAT, of the Svanemøllen cloudburst tunnel's main tunnel and structures contract, in negotiated procurement (104 months)

DKK 9.4 billion and DKK 12.2 billion: municipal guarantee frameworks for HOFOR Vand København and HOFOR Spildevand København (approved May 2023)

Buyer relevance

Who the report is for

Tunnelling and civil contractors

Check the Svanemøllen SST04 contract (DKK 1.9 billion estimate, 104 months) and its award weightings, and the Harrestrup Å works expected from summer 2027.

Water treatment and process suppliers

Follow the waterworks softening programme to 2032, the Thorsbro PFAS carbon-filtration stage and BIOFOS's planned fourth treatment stage.

Engineering and programme-management consultancies

Size the BIOFOS client organisation of 75 to 95 full-time equivalents a year proposed for 2027 to 2031 under a DKK 612 million planning budget.

Lenders and infrastructure investors

See how the DKK 9.4 billion and DKK 12.2 billion municipal guarantee frameworks and regulated revenue caps back HOFOR's borrowing.

Decision scope

Questions answered

How much is HOFOR investing in Copenhagen?

DKK 1,595 million in 2025, up from DKK 952 million in 2023, with DKK 1,609 million forecast for 2026.

What is the largest live water contract in the city?

The main tunnel and structures contract for the 10 km Svanemøllen cloudburst tunnel, estimated at DKK 1.9 billion excluding VAT, in negotiated procurement.

What will the new wastewater treatment plants cost?

BIOFOS estimates DKK 27.1 billion to rebuild in place or DKK 26.5 billion for a new plant at Prøvestenen (2025 prices), or DKK 25.7 billion and DKK 21.2 billion net of land sale and cost allocation.

How are these projects financed?

Through regulated tariffs within annual economic frameworks set by Vandsektortilsynet, and borrowing under municipal guarantees; BIOFOS expects to seek a loan ceiling from its owner municipalities.

Inside the report

Inside the complete report

Executive Snapshot

1. Why This Matters Now in Copenhagen

2. Current Position

3. Key Programmes, Projects and Investment

4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions

5. Risks and Constraints

6. Strategic Implications

7. What to Watch

Source Register

Public preview

What to watch next

2. Current Position

HOFOR's 2026 actual investment in its 2026 annual report, expected in spring 2027, against the DKK 1,609 million forecast.

3. Key Programmes, Projects and Investment

The SST04 award; Kalvebod Brygge commissioning before the 2027 cloudburst season; BIOFOS's mid-2027 decision on Damhusåen.

4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions

Committee and council votes on the ownership strategies on 17 and 26 November 2026; the government's bill implementing the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, planned for February 2027.

5. Risks and Constraints

HOFOR's 2027 tariffs, not announced at 3 November 2026; any BIOFOS request for an owner loan ceiling.

A report page with two tables listing Copenhagen waterworks and cloudburst tunnel projects, their partners, values, stages and timelines. — Sample page · page 5 of 11
Section 3: drinking water and cloudburst project tables, with value, stage and timeline for each named scheme.

Included

What you receive

The complete PDF report: 11 pages, 9 sections, 13 tables and a register of 19 sources.

This edition

November 2026, First edition.

Evidence & method

Evidence and method

The report draws on HOFOR's 2025 annual report and Copenhagen companion report, BIOFOS's September 2026 decision basis, EU procurement notices for the Svanemøllen tunnel, Thorsbro waterworks and HOFOR dataloggers, Vandsektortilsynet's 2026 framework decisions and City of Copenhagen council papers on guarantees, loans, ownership and climate adaptation.

Sources

19 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 3 November 2026. Principal data periods: HOFOR investment for 2023–2025 (actual) and 2026 (forecast); BIOFOS decision basis of September 2026 (2025 prices); procurement notices to June 2026; 2026 regulatory frameworks; municipal guarantee frameworks approved in 2023. All currency is Danish kroner (DKK)..

Evidence boundaries

This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.

Lead analyst

Robert C. Brears

Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence

Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.

Decision-focused utility intelligence
Published water-policy author
Evidence-grounded system analysis

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