Management of Norwegian drinking water
The management of Norwegian drinking water involves several actors. Both the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority are responsible for the drinking water regulations.
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Central level (primary actors)
Ministry of Health and Care Services
The Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) has the overall responsibility for health-related matters. HOD is the responsible ministry for the laws under which the drinking water regulations are based, and is therefore the central ministry for the management of drinking water in Norway.
Ministry of Health and Care Services (regjeringen.no)
Norwegian Food Safety Authority
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is the directorate for consumer and health-oriented supervision of foodstuffs, which includes drinking water. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority shall formulate regulations, approve and supervise water supply systems in Norway. Plan approval and supervision according to the drinking water regulations are carried out by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's regions. Supervision of water supply systems on the continental shelf has been delegated by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to the County Governor of Rogaland.
The head office of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is the appeals body for decisions made by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's regions, as well as for decisions made by the County Governor of Rogaland under delegated authority from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Norwegian Directorate of Health
The Norwegian Directorate of Health is a directorate under the HOD, and manages, among other things, the Public Health Act and the Infection Control Act. They have no direct task under the drinking water regulations, but shall monitor conditions affecting public health and contribute to implementing national policy in the public health area. They shall be a driving force for knowledge-based public health work, including through the development of national norms and standards for good public health work.
Norwegian Directorate of Health (helsedirektoratet.no)
Norwegian Board of Health Supervision
The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision is a directorate under the HOD, and has the overall professional supervision of the Public Health Act under § 31. They shall exercise authority in accordance with what is determined in law and regulation. The Board of Health Supervision also has instructional authority over the county medical officer at the county governor. They shall also handle complaints made by the County Governor based on the Public Health Act. For offshore installations covered by the Petroleum Act, the Board of Health Supervision is one of several supervisory authorities. The executive authority has been delegated to the County Governor of Rogaland.
Norwegian Board of Health Supervision (helsetilsynet.no)
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) is a national, professional advisory body for, among others, HOD, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and municipalities in, among other things, drinking water related issues. FHI uses waterworks data from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for processing and internal use. FHI is also a national competence center for clarifying waterborne infections. From 2017, they also administer the telephone service "Vannvakta" (Water Watch).
Norwegian Institute of Public Health (fhi.no)
Other organizations
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (LMD) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD) are, together with HOD, the central ministries in the food sector. The first two are to a small extent directly involved in the management of drinking water.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (regjeringen.no)
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (regjeringen.no)
The Ministry of Climate and Environment is a ministry with responsibility for pollution of soil, air and water, as well as responsibility for nature conservation, outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish.
Ministry of Climate and Environment (regjeringen.no)
The Norwegian Environment Agency is a directorate with responsibility, among other things, for pollution of soil, air and water. In the event of interventions that may lead to changes in the natural state or be detrimental to outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish, the Norwegian Environment Agency shall comment on the matter. They are also an appeals body for cases under § 7 of the Act on salmonid fish and inland fish etc. The Norwegian Environment Agency is the coordinating body at the central level for work under the Water Framework Directive.
Norwegian Environment Agency (miljodirektoratet.no)
The Directorate for Nature Management, together with the Ministry of the Environment, manages the regulation on water and sewage fees.
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is a directorate with water resources authority under the Water Resources Act. The Water Resources Act regulates water and water extraction, which also includes groundwater. NVE's tasks in the drinking water sector include processing concession applications and notifications under § 8 of the Water Resources Act. The appeals body is the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (nve.no)
Regional level
Since 1.1.2004, the County Governor has not had any statutory tasks under the drinking water regulations, but is an important participant in connection with protecting the catchment area from pollution. Furthermore, the county governor is an important partner for the municipal medical officer.
The county municipalities have no formal role when it comes to the drinking water regulations, but are an important consultation body in connection with plan approval of larger water supply systems. Furthermore, the county municipality has an important role as a regional planning body, where, among other things, county sub-plans for water supply can be a relevant planning tool.
Local and municipal level
The municipal council has the authority to make decisions under the provisions of the Public Health Act chapter 3 on environmental health protection, including water for drinking or hygienic use. Medical personnel, usually the municipal medical officer I, is an important consultation body in connection with plan approval of waterworks. Furthermore, in special emergency situations, the municipality can decide that water can still be supplied even if the quality requirements in the drinking water regulations are not met.