Scheme to improve ground-water protection in Denmark

In December 1998 the Danish parliament decided that county councils should be responsible for the detailed mapping of water resources within a 33% area of Denmark. The next step will be classification of ground-water protection zones and use of guidelines to prevent ground-water pollution from city development, leaching of nitrates, etc. Before 2001 the county councils shall decide a plan of action with a timetable for implementing the necessary measures. The total cost price is 920 million DKK, equivalent to 130 million US$ During a 10-year period the consumers will pay an extra 2 cents per m3 of water.