About Stormwater&Sewers

Stormwater&Sewers is the Swedish research center of excellence in stormwater and sewer systems as well as resource efficient and small sanitation systems initiating and implementing research and development based on stakeholders' needs in these fields. Stormwater&Sewers carries out its research in close collaboration with its members but also engages other stakeholders of importance. Hence, the center of excellence is an important catalyst for further cooperation in the field offering new venues for upcoming players.

Stormwater&Sewers was formed in late 2010 focusing on stormwater and sewer systems. In 2022, the research focus was broadened and furtheron incorporates also resource efficient and small sanitation systems. The research cluster is led by the Urban Water Engineering research group at Luleå University of Technology, assisted by the Water and climate adaptation and Circular wastewater systems groups at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden as well as the Urban Water Engineering research group at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU Trondheim). It counts a rising number of members consisting of municipal water utilities from all over Sweden. A large number of the research projects carried out by Stormwater&Sewers are funded by these parties.

Moreover, Stormwater&Sewers serves as umbrella for projects and centers of excellence focusing on stormwater, sewers and resource-effective small sanitation systems, such as the Vinnova-funded center of excellence for stormwater management Drizzle, as well as for master's theses and students' projects carried out at Luleå University of Technology within the field of urban water engineering.

More information about the organizational structure and co-operation partners of Stormwater&Sewers can be found under Organization and Partners respectively.

Information about Stormwater&Sewers' current projects and activities can be found on the website or in the newsletter which is published four times a year and distributed via e-mail or can be downloaded from the website. If you want to subscribe to the newsletter, please fill in the form here External link, opens in new window..

The results of the research carried out by Stormwater&Sewers are published in various reports and scientific articles. A special technical notes series called New Research and Technology also published by Stormwater&Sewers is focusing on the practical use of research results and summarizes scientific articles for practitioners. The series is published in Swedish only.

Furthermore, Stormwater&Sewers arranges conferences, workshops and seminars on a regular basis that often are open to all people interested in the field (some of them for a fee for non-members).

Organisation

The overall organization of Stormwater&Sewers comprises a steering group, a management team and thematic reference groups that are linked to Stormwater&Sewers' three research themes Stormwater, Sewers and Sanitation Systems.

Steering group members

Petra Viklund, Head of Water Department, Lumire (chairman Stormwater&Sewers), Mikael Lundin, Head of Water Department, Vakin (vice-chairman Stormwater&Sewers), Stefan Johansson, Head of Water & Waste Management Department, Skellefteå municipality, Kristina Kenning, Sector leader Waste, Water and Sewers, Östersund municipality, Tomas Larsson, Business Area Manager Water & Sewer, MittSverige Vatten & Avfall, Carl Bernin, Head of Water Department, Boden municipality, Bodil Widell, Development and Innovation group manager, Nodra, Karin Fernström, Head of Urban Water Development, VA SYD, Liselott Myrbråten, Head of Water and Waste Department, Tekniska verken Linköping, Klara Westling, Svenskt Vatten VAK representative, Ulrika Larsson, Svenskt Vatten RÖK representative and Water and Wastewater strategist, Lumire, Maria Viklander, Professor of Urban Water Engineering, Luleå University of Technology (cluster leader), Sylvia Kowar, Project Coordinator, Luleå University of Technology (cluster coordinator), and Emma Risén, Development Leader, Svenskt Vatten.

Needs-driven research at the forefront in symbiosis with society

Stormwater&Sewers is characterized by needs-driven research at the forefront and in symbiosis with society within the fields of stormwater, sewers and sanitation systems.

Therefore, the competence and research cluster Stormwater&Sewers has three themes:

• STORMWATER from rain to receiving waters
• Function and renewal of SEWER SYSTEMS
• Resource-efficient small SANITATION SYSTEMS

Within these three themes, Stormwater&Sewers develops innovative solutions, systems and techniques that help constructing resource-efficient, circular societies of tomorrow that are well adapted to climate change.

Vision 2030

By 2030, we will be a leading international research and competence center in stormwater, sewers and resource-efficient small sanitation systems. We contribute to a sustainable society by developing the water system of the future for national and global benefit.

Overall goals:

Based on challenge-driven research, higher education and continuous training of highest quality, Stormwater&Sewers aims at contributing to:

• sustainable and innovative social development,
• a climate-neutral water-wise society,
• resilient infrastructure,
• a resource-efficient society making wise use of water, energy and nutrients,
• effective maintenance and sustainable renewal planning, as well as
• lifelong learning.

Main strategies

We rely on six main strategies to achieve our vision and overall goals:

• With stable and long-term collaborations, we ensure quality and relevance in research, education/continuous training and communication.
• We create visibility by target group tailored communication.
• Through strategic networks both nationally and internationally, we position ourselves and influence the development of society.
• With our laboratory, experimental and field facilities, we ensure research relevance and strengthen our collaboration.
• Through active participation in industry activities, we ensure relevant training and knowledge transfer.
• With a welcoming and open collaborative climate characterized by courage, participation and trust, we lay the foundation for development and innovation.

Success factors

Our success factors for reaching the goals are:

• needs-driven research close to users and in symbiosis with demanders
• research linked to current and future challenges
• good cooperation nationally, internationally and interdisciplinary
• networking both formally and informally
• development of innovations
• application of results and implementation within a foreseeable time
• viral spread of knowledge and results