Claes Rudenholm is CEO of AVVATech, one of Uniwater’s specialist in water and environmental engineering. Today, an increasing share of the company’s work is focused on helping Swedish municipalities address PFAS contamination.
This is a major responsibility for municipalities. With the stricter limit values, many have realized over the past year that their existing facilities may not be able to meet the new requirements, and therefore need to act.
– Claes Rudenholm, CEO, AVVATech
Stricter Water Treatment Requirements
On 1 January 2026, stricter limit values for PFAS in drinking water came into force in Sweden. As a result, many municipalities now need to upgrade their water treatment plants with additional treatment capacity. The total investment required is estimated at approximately SEK 1.4 billion.
“With the new limit values, many have realized over the past year that their existing facilities may not be able to comply, and therefore need to take action” says Claes Rudenholm.
Together with its partners and subcontractors, AVVATech develops tailored PFAS treatment solutions for water treatment plants, based on factors such as plant size and the volume of water to be treated.
“We have expertise in engineering, design, process technology, project management, procurement, delivery, and installation. We often provide turnkey solutions that increase treatment capacity and ensure compliance with the new requirements,” he explains.
A Smart Solution, Rapidly Deployed
Although the need for increased treatment capacity is substantial, it is not always necessary to rebuild entire facilities in the short term.
One municipality in southern Sweden, with which we have a framework agreement, realized that it would not be able to meet the new PFAS standards before its new water treatment plant was completed. We therefore proposed a temporary containerized PFAS treatment solution. It was built indoors, could be delivered quickly, and was easy to connect to the existing system, says Claes Rudenholm.
The containerized solution provided a fast and reliable way to secure safe drinking water while the new treatment plant was being planned and constructed. The unit can remain in operation for several years and can later be resold or redeployed, ensuring that the investment retains its value.
“It is a smart solution that allows decision-makers to avoid rushing into short-term decisions that may not be optimal in the long run,” says Claes Rudenholm, who remains cautiously optimistic about the future.
“Access to clean water is not just a technical challenge – it’s a prerequisite for sustainable societies”
Claes Rudenholm, CEO of AVVATeCH
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