The water supply in Longyearbyen must be secured

Researchers are now investigating how to better secure Longyearbyen’s only source of drinking water.

An article on gemeni.no External link.describes the work involved in assessing the condition of Longyearbyen’s drinking water.

The ice pond is Longyearbyen’s only source of drinking water. In the fall of 2025, the Longyearbyen Local Council (LL) commissioned a comprehensive condition analysis of the drinking water source.

Knowledge

The analysis is part of the local council’s efforts to ensure a safe and stable water supply to Longyearbyen in the face of both climate change and increased geopolitical tensions in the Arctic.

“We aim to help establish a solid knowledge base regarding how water quality, water volume, and the dam structure itself may evolve in the coming years,” says Research Director Hanne Kvitsand at SINTEF.

Comprehensive project

SINTEF is leading the effort, which is being carried out in close collaboration with researchers from the University Center in Svalbard (UNIS) and the University of Bergen (UiB). The report from the investigations is expected to be ready during the second quarter of 2027, according to gemeni.no External link..

– The water project in Longyearbyen has evolved from a limited procurement of desalination plants into a far more comprehensive project. Today, it encompasses both a reserve water solution, firefighting water capacity, piping systems, and securing our main water source, says Local Council Chair Terje Aunevik (V).

You can read the full article at gemeni.no by following this link External link.