Karlstad is built on the river delta where Sweden's longest river, the Klarälven, flows into Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake. It is the second largest inland port in Sweden and one of the sunniest cities in Sweden. Karlstad's roots stretch all the way back to 1000 AD, but after many fires and battles, the city had to be rebuilt. The last time this was done was in the mid-19th century at the Klarälven. Depending on the climate, water levels vary during the summer.

A summer with little rainfall leads to lower levels in the river, which means that the pumping station's overflow pipes are exposed on the riverbank opposite Gubbholmen. Gubbholmen and its surroundings are a recreational area known for its bird watching and beautiful nature. However, with the overflow pipes exposed, the smell in the area was unbearable. To get rid of the smell, the residents of the municipality used to cover the pipes with plastic. This was a good solution to get rid of the smell in the short term, but in the long term it was not at all optimal. If there were to be a flood while the plastic was on the pipes, the pumping station would be damaged.

Tim Karlsson, production manager in the city of Karlstad, therefore looked for a better solution. When he found WaStop, he immediately saw new opportunities.