Roskilde Forsyning
A municipally owned Danish utility providing drinking water, wastewater services, and district heating in and around Roskilde.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Roskilde Forsyning is a public utility company based in Roskilde, Denmark. Its principal responsibilities are the production and distribution of drinking water, the collection and treatment of wastewater, and the supply of district heating. The company serves both residential and commercial customers in Roskilde and nearby areas, operating physical networks and treatment facilities rather than functioning as a conventional consumer-facing product brand. The present organization was created in 2000 by combining municipal activities covering electricity, water, and district heating. Wastewater operations were incorporated in 2007. The electricity-production business was subsequently sold to SEAS-NVE on 1 July 2009, leaving water, wastewater, and district heating as the company’s core utility areas. In 2010, the organization was converted into an aktieselskab, a Danish limited company, while remaining wholly owned by Roskilde Municipality. Roskilde Forsyning’s water business supplies approximately 10,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day through about 550 kilometres of water mains. Water is sourced from three waterworks: Haraldsborg and Ågerup in Roskilde Municipality and Hornsherred in Lejre Municipality. Its wastewater operation serves approximately 82,000 private and commercial customers, moving around 23,100 cubic metres of wastewater per day through nearly 1,000 kilometres of sewers and approximately 200 pumping stations to five treatment plants. District heating is another major activity. Most of Roskilde has been connected to district heating since the 1970s. The company manages a distribution network of roughly 286 kilometres serving about 50,000 customers. Rather than generating all of this heat itself, Roskilde Forsyning purchases heating from VEKS, with supply mainly associated with the Avedøre power station and the KARA/NOVOREN waste-to-energy facility in Roskilde. The company’s role is therefore primarily that of a local infrastructure operator and service provider, linking municipal customers to regional water, wastewater, and heat systems.
History
Roskilde’s municipal utility infrastructure predates the modern Roskilde Forsyning organization by more than a century. A municipal waterworks opened in 1880, establishing the foundation for organized public water supply in the area. On 6 December 1905, a decision was made to construct a local power station, which was completed in 1906. These facilities reflected the gradual expansion of municipal responsibility for essential infrastructure during the early twentieth century. Wastewater became a distinct part of the local system when a treatment plant was opened near Roskilde’s port in 1936. District heating developed later. In 1963, the Rådmandshaven housing estate became the first group of buildings in Roskilde to use distant heating. By the 1970s, district heating had expanded to serve much of the city and subsequently became one of the area’s principal utility services. The current company was formed in 2000 through the consolidation of municipal electricity, water, and district-heating activities. This merger created a single organization responsible for several major network utilities. Wastewater treatment and related sewage operations were added to the company in 2007, broadening its remit to include the full wastewater chain from collection through treatment and disposal. The electricity side of the organization was later reduced. Electricity production was sold to SEAS-NVE on 1 July 2009. In 2010, the company was reorganized as an aktieselskab, or Danish limited company, but its ownership remained entirely with Roskilde Municipality. This legal change gave the utility a corporate structure while preserving municipal control. Today, Roskilde Forsyning operates as a local public-service infrastructure company. Its drinking-water system includes three waterworks and approximately 550 kilometres of mains, supplying around 10,000 cubic metres daily. Its wastewater system serves roughly 82,000 private and commercial customers and includes nearly 1,000 kilometres of sewer pipes, around 200 pumping stations, and five treatment works. The company also operates approximately 286 kilometres of district-heating distribution network serving about 50,000 customers. Heat is purchased principally through VEKS and is associated with supply from the Avedøre power station and the KARA/NOVOREN waste-to-energy plant in Roskilde.
- 2010
Converted into a municipally owned limited company
[1]Roskilde Forsyning adopted an aktieselskab structure while remaining fully owned by Roskilde Municipality.
- 2009
Electricity production sold
[1]The company’s electricity-production activities were sold to SEAS-NVE on 1 July.
- 2007
Wastewater operations merged into the company
[1]Sewage treatment and related wastewater activities became part of Roskilde Forsyning.
- 2000
Roskilde Forsyning established through merger
[1]Municipal electricity, water, and district-heating activities were combined to create the present organization.
- 1963
First distant-heating housing estate
[1]The Rådmandshaven housing estate became the first development in Roskilde to use distant heating.
- 1936
Wastewater treatment introduced
[1]A wastewater treatment plant opened near Roskilde’s port.
- 1905
Decision to build a local power station
[1]On 6 December, the local authorities decided to construct a power station; the facility was completed in 1906.
- 1880
Municipal waterworks opened
[1]A municipal waterworks was inaugurated in Roskilde, marking an early foundation of the area’s organized public water-supply system.
Products and positioning
A municipally owned local infrastructure utility focused on essential water, wastewater, and district-heating services for households and businesses in the Roskilde area.
Water utility service
Drinking water supply
Roskilde Forsyning supplies drinking water to households and commercial users through approximately 550 kilometres of water pipes. Daily supply is about 10,000 cubic metres. The water is sourced from three waterworks: Haraldsborg and Ågerup in Roskilde Municipality and Hornsherred Waterworks in Lejre Municipality.
Wastewater utility service · 2007
Wastewater collection and treatment
The wastewater business collects, transports, treats, and disposes of wastewater from approximately 82,000 private and commercial customers. Its infrastructure includes nearly 1,000 kilometres of sewerage pipes and about 200 sewage pumping stations, feeding five wastewater treatment works. Daily wastewater handling is approximately 23,100 cubic metres.
District-heating utility service
District heating
Roskilde Forsyning distributes district heating through a network approximately 286 kilometres long, serving around 50,000 customers. Much of Roskilde has received district heating since the 1970s. The company purchases heat from VEKS, with principal sources linked to the Avedøre power station and the KARA/NOVOREN waste-to-energy facility in Roskilde.
Brand decisions
2010
Corporate conversion under municipal ownershipStrategyBackground
The utility required a formal corporate structure while continuing to serve as a municipally controlled public-service organization.
Action taken
Roskilde Forsyning was converted into an aktieselskab, a Danish limited company, and remained fully owned by Roskilde Municipality.
Aftermath
The company operated with a corporate legal form while retaining municipal ownership and local public-service responsibilities.
2009
Sale of electricity-production activitiesM&ABackground
Electricity production was part of the utility activities consolidated in 2000, but it was later separated from the company’s main local utility role.
Action taken
The electricity-production business was sold to SEAS-NVE on 1 July 2009.
Aftermath
Roskilde Forsyning’s principal operating focus became water, wastewater, and district heating.
2007
Integration of wastewater operationsStrategyBackground
The company’s initial post-2000 scope covered electricity, water, and district heating, while wastewater activities were incorporated later.
Action taken
Sewage treatment operations were merged into Roskilde Forsyning.
Aftermath
The company became responsible for a broader wastewater service chain, including collection, treatment, and disposal.
2000
Merger of municipal utility activitiesM&ABackground
Roskilde’s municipal electricity, water, and district-heating activities were previously handled as separate areas. They were consolidated to form the present Roskilde Forsyning organization.
Action taken
The activities were merged into a single utility company.
Aftermath
The merger created an integrated municipal utility, later expanded to include wastewater operations.
Sources1 sources
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