Volcanic activity near Sundhnúksgígar threatens infrastructure in Svartsengi, authorities urge conservation of hot water in Suðurnes region

Recent volcanic activity near Sundhnúksgígar poses a threat to critical infrastructure in the Svartsengi area, especially systems responsible for providing hot water to residents and businesses in the Suðurnes region. Authorities have urged customers to conserve hot water.

Currently, the eruption has not affected supplies of hot water, cold water, or electricity. However, officials remain hopeful that this stability will continue. Monitoring indicates that the lava flow has not yet impacted the Njarðvíkuræð, the pipeline that supplies hot water from Svartsengi to Njarðvík, despite it being covered by lava as of Thursday morning.

There are concerns that lava might overflow the L3 protective barrier in Svartsengi. Local utilities are advising residents to prepare for possible disruptions in hot water supply and to take measures to retain heat in their homes.

Contractors are working to raise the height of the protective barriers and secure the infrastructure in the area. A geotechnical engineer emphasized the vulnerability of the situation, stating, “We are primarily preparing to elevate the barrier from Njarðvíkuræð to the Svartsengi lines and down towards the Blue Lagoon. The situation is very delicate here.”

Monitoring teams are taking several steps to protect the area, including raising the barriers and cooling the lava flow. These actions are essential as they aim to safeguard the infrastructure and maintain stability amidst the ongoing volcanic activity.