Update on water in Longyearbyen
After Legionella bacteria and manganese were detected in the water, the Longyearbyen local government has been working on various measures. This page will not be updated after March 19, but has been replaced with the page "Drinking water in Longyearbyen."
Here is information about our measures and information that has been sent out:
March 19, 2025:
Read more about mapping the type of manganese we need to purify
Read more about how we map what type of manganese we need to purify
March 5, 2025:
Read more about updating measures for investigating manganese
Read more in this link about measures for investigating manganese
March 4, 2025:
March 4, 2025:
March 3, 2025:
Here is a link to the measures we will be implementing on Monday, March 3.
This is a link to our action plan on March 3.
March 3, 2025:
Flushing of water pipes in Longyearbyen.
The flushing will take place at night from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, on the night of Thursday, March 6, and the night of Friday, March 7.
Flushing of the drinking water network in Longyearbyen.
The flushing will take place at night from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, on the night of Thursday, March 6, and the night of Friday, March 7.
February 28, 2025:
FHI concludes that from September 2024 to the present day, the manganese content is too high for the water to be given to infants, i.e., children between 0-12 months. Read our press release about this by following this link.
FHI concludes that from September 2024 to the present day, the manganese content is too high for the water to be given to infants, i.e., children between 0-12 months. Read our press release by following this link
February 27, 2025:
Longyearbyen local authority (LL) is currently working on various measures to map manganese in drinking water. Read more about our measures to investigate manganese in this article.
Longyearbyen local authority (LL) is currently working on various measures to map manganese in drinking water.
Read this article on our measures
February 22, 2025:
Information about manganese in drinking water. Here you can read more information about manganese in Longyearbyen.
Information about manganese in drinking water. This article has more information about manganese in Longyearbyen.
February 19, 2025:
In this article, you can read the information provided at the local council meeting on February 19, which covered both water quality and measures.
In this article you can read more information from the local council meeting on February 19 about both water quality and measures.
February 17, 2025:
Samples have been taken behind the Legionella filter and indicate that Legionella is present in the internal water supply network in Svalbardhallen.
We are therefore forced to temporarily close both the showers and the swimming pool. Various measures are being worked on continuously, and more information about our work will follow.
Read more about the latest sampling and measures in this case
English:
The latest test results from Svalbardhallen show high concentrations of Legionella. The samples were taken behind the Legionella filter, indicating that Legionella is present in the internal water supply system of Svalbardhallen.
Therefore, we are forced to temporarily close both the showers and the swimming pool. Various measures are being worked on continuously, and more information about our actions will follow.
Read more about the test results and our measures in this article
February 11, 2025:
Due to high levels of Legionella, we will flush the drinking water system to reduce the conditions for Legionella growth.
The flushing will take place at night, on the night of Wednesday, February 12, and the night of Thursday, February 13.
English:
Due to water samples that detected Legionella in the water, we will now take immediate action.
The flushing will take place at night, during the night from Wednesday, February 12 to Thursday, February 13.
This article provides more information about flushing the network
February 7, 2025:
Elevated level of Legionella in the drinking water. You can read more about this in this article.
Elevated level of Legionella in the water supply. Read more in this article
Longyearbyen local council has had operational problems at the water treatment plant that have caused the chlorine dosing to stop. This has resulted in a bloom of legionella in the drinking water network. Longyearbyen local council is working to rectify the problem so that chlorine dosing can resume.
Longyearbyen local council has had operational problems at the water treatment plant that have caused the chlorine dosing to stop. This has resulted in a bloom of Legionella in the drinking water network. Longyearbyen local council is working to rectify the problem so that the chlorine dosing can be resumed.
December 3, 2024:
LL is now seeing a sharp reduction in the occurrence of Legionella in the drinking water network.
It is clear that chlorination is producing good results and previously affected areas are now free of Legionella.
LL will continue chlorination and regular sampling until all water samples are free of Legionella.
October 17, 2024:
Since the last update, we have done the following:
- Flushed the entire water supply network.
- Adjusted the temperature in some main pipes.
- Adjusted the filling frequency of the elevated tank to increase circulation in the main pipes.
The latest test results show a decrease in the detection of Legionella bacteria, both in terms of locations and concentrations. We will continue to chlorinate the pipe network until we have zero detections of Legionella in the network.
Chlorine is dosed at the same concentration as before, at approximately 50% of the permitted amount. New samples will be taken and analyzed in November.
The public is encouraged to use water as normal so that we achieve circulation of chlorine in all branch and ring pipes. If you notice discolored water, this is probably due to biofilm that has come loose from the inside of the pipe, and the solution is to run cold water until the water becomes clear again.
September 30, 2024:
The latest news on the water situation is that new flushing was carried out at the beginning of September. Chlorination of the water continues, and new water samples will be taken in week 40, i.e. this week. It takes about ten days to get the results.
August 28, 2024:
See also this article:
Questions and answers about the water situation
A summary of various measures that have been implemented recently and that we are currently working on:
- Water samples taken in August showed improvement, with only three of 11 sampling points showing contamination.
- In week 36, water pipes will be flushed in the evening and at night. More information to follow.
- The water temperature has been adjusted.
- A concept study on reserve water is underway.
- New intake pipe in Isdammen.
- Agreement with Svalbard Brewery regarding emergency water. More information to follow.
- New routine of two additional water samples per year, expanded testing with all parameters.
- Mapping of the water network in Longyearbyen, to be completed this fall.
- Work is underway on a new water pipe to Svalbard Church.
July 29, 2024:
On July 22, water samples were taken to measure the effect of chlorine.
The test results are now in and show that Legionella is still present in varying concentrations in the samples.
We are therefore continuing to chlorinate the drinking water. New water samples will be taken in about three weeks.
July 9, 2024:
Chlorination of drinking water in Longyearbyen is now ready to begin. Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant worldwide, and it has been documented that even low doses of chlorine provide good protection against the most common waterborne diseases.
Chlorination is one of several measures being taken to combat Legionella. The amount of chlorine added to the water is in accordance with the recommendations of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and we are following the advice of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Chlorination in Longyearbyen will start on July 10, 2024.
It is difficult to estimate how long it will take for the chlorination to take effect, but regular water samples will be taken to monitor the drinking water network during the process.
Disinfection of all elevated tanks has been completed, and the report shows that this measure has had a positive effect.
You can read more about the disinfection of drinking water here:
Norwegian Institute of Public Health Summary of Topic: Drinking Water External link.
Do you have questions about chlorination of water?
Call the plumber on call: 900 42 509.
or:
Jon Petter Sogge Hemstad: 932 71 660.
June 19, 2024:
The following preparatory measures have been carried out:
Flushing of the pipe network.
Cleaning and disinfection of all elevated tanks.
Downward adjustment of the temperature in the pipe network.
Upcoming measures:
Continuous addition of chlorine to the entire pipe network; this will be announced in advance.
Continuous sampling and monitoring of temperatures.
June 3, 2024:
Cleaning agents have arrived, and disinfection of the elevated tanks will begin on June 12 and last for four days.
New Legionella test of the water in the elevated tanks immediately after disinfection.
Chlorine has arrived, and work is now underway to determine the correct dosage.
Chlorination of the water is expected to start once disinfection of the elevated tank has been completed. New Legionella tests will be taken after chlorination has started.
May 30, 2024:
Measures implemented by the Longyearbyen local government in Longyearbyen:
- Flushing of water pipes.
- Adjusted down the estimated filling frequency (retention time) of the elevated reservoir and water temperatures in the network.
- Testing of raw water from Isdammen after purification of the water was negative for Legionella bacteria.
Measures to be implemented in the coming weeks:
- Chlorine for the pipe network and chemicals for cleaning the elevated reservoir have been ordered and are on their way.
- The elevated tank will be cleaned by an external supplier.
- Water samples will be taken after each measure.
- LL will send out a warning before chlorine is added to the water network.
National advice:
The Longyearbyen local government is following the advice provided by the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and the hospital here in Longyearbyen. We have been in close dialogue with these parties from the very beginning.
About Legionella bacteria:
It is important to note that Legionella bacteria do not cause infectious disease, but are commonly found in nature and occur in surface water and soil. Bacteria can also enter the pipe network in buildings via the drinking water supply.
Read more at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health External link.
Infection:
Legionella is not transmitted directly from person to person. It can be transmitted by inhaling water vapor containing Legionella bacteria from cooling systems in hotels, hospitals, and office buildings. It can also be transmitted via shower systems when the hot water temperature is too low, in hot tubs, and other water sources such as sprinkler systems, humidifiers, fire protection systems, indoor fountains, and humidification systems for fruit and vegetables.
In summary:
The water in Longyearbyen is safe to drink, and we are a largely healthy population. LL has not set up a crisis team, but is monitoring the situation closely. At the same time, several measures are being implemented on an ongoing basis.
It is also important to remember that there are many tourists in the town, and we emphasize that the travel industry has a responsibility to inform its guests about the situation with Legionella bacteria.
Updated