Boden, a town of just over 28,000 in northern Sweden, could soon find itself hosting almost as many NATO troops as it has residents. During major exercises or a security crisis, an extra 25,000 people may be stationed there. That sudden doubling of the population would overwhelm the local water supply and sewage system.
“Our capacity is not enough—neither drinking water production nor wastewater treatment,” says Lena Goldkuhl (S), chair of the municipality’s planning committee.
The issue is now on Stockholm’s radar. A government inquiry (Increased Emergency Preparedness SOU 2024:82) has proposed requiring municipalities to build reserve capacity into critical infrastructure. In theory, that would mean towns like Boden have to expand facilities in advance.
But the local government calls that unrealistic. The price tag for doubling water and sewage capacity runs into huge sums, and Boden leaders argue it would be unfair for residents to foot the bill for infrastructure used only when NATO arrives.
“It’s not reasonable that the people of Boden should pay,” Goldkuhl says. “When it comes to water and sewage, we’re talking about enormous costs.”
Instead, she argues, the state should cover it, tapping into the five percent of GDP already earmarked for defence.
Bottom line: NATO’s reliance on Boden makes the town strategically vital. But without state backing, its basic infrastructure won’t hold under the weight of thousands of temporary troops.