Our vital water

IVL Swedish Environmental Institute has a strong pooled water expertise. Get help from us when you need a holistic view of water issues and prepare for the water challenges of the future.

Water is one of our largest areas of activity.

IVL's researchers have followed the development of our watercourses, lakes and seas since the 1960s. Today, we work with everything from advanced water flow measurement to identifying sources of emissions and the development of water treatment and aquaculture.

Environmental investigations, inventories and water analysis

We carry out environmental investigations such as risk assessment of leachate, inventory in the marine environment and risks with unfamiliar species and marine noise. We research how environmentally damaging substances and various activities risk affecting our marine ecosystems. We also have an extensive analysis activity which means that we can detect and quantify new pollutants.

Circular solutions for purification technology

Together with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, we operate the test facility Hammarby Sjöstadsverk in Stockholm, a world-leading R&D facility in water treatment technology. Here we develop technology to be able to reuse and utilize purified drainage.

Marine focus at Kristineberg Center

IVL has for many years had significant marine operations at the research station in Kristineberg outside Lysekil in Southern Sweden. At the newly established center for marine research and innovation, we have strengthened our focus on sustainable expansion in the sea, and marine industries.

Our research on water

We work with the entire water system.

Press

Alnösundet vid Fillanverket. Foto: MittSverige Vatten och Avfall

Climate change is forcing nitrogen purge

The Bothnian Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia have so far not been assessed as sensitive to nitrogen emissions. A new research project will now find out the most effective way to purify nitrogen from wastewater in a climate that is cold for large parts of the year. Both Swedish environmental authorities and the EU are sending signals that the requirements will be tightened to reduce the risk of algal blooms and eutrophication.

PFAS-contaminated water can be purified – but this can be costly

An IVL project has tested various techniques for purifying PFAS-contaminated leachate from waste facilities. The efficiency of the various methods has been evaluated through practical experiment and the costs estimated. Our conclusion is that purification is expensive but can be justified from a socio-economic perspective if the goal is to reduce PFOS or the most toxic PFAS substances.