Um fráveituna
Veitur's sewage system serves approximately 60% of households in the country. The service is divided into two main functions: the collection and treatment of wastewater, and the management of stormwater.
The wastewater system in Iceland.
Sewage water is contaminated water from homes and businesses. The wastewater system provides a critical service that few consider in daily life but cannot do without. Sewage from households and businesses is collected by Veitur’s wastewater system, transported to pumping stations, and then pumped to wastewater treatment plants. At these facilities, the sewage is treated until it is safe to be released back into the environment.
Veitur manages the development and operation of wastewater systems in Reykjavik, Kjalarnes, Akranes, Borgarnes, Bifröst, Hvanneyri, Varmaland, and Reykholt. Wastewater from Kópavogur, Mosfellsbær, Seltjarnarnes, and parts of Garðabær is treated at Veitur’s treatment plants at Ánanaust and Klettagarðar. About 60% of Icelandic households are connected to Veitur’s wastewater system. This service includes two key components: the collection and treatment of sewage and the management of stormwater.
Cloacina - The History of Wastewater Systems
Cloacina, whose name gives us the international term "cloaca" (sewer), was a Roman goddess of hygiene and overseer of the great sewer of ancient Rome. In Reykjavik, the first sewer was laid by the nuns of Landakot, who enlisted Knud Zimsen to build a pipeline from their hill down to Ægisgata and into the sea. This occurred years before Zimsen became the mayor of Reykjavik and inaugurated the city’s water supply system by turning on a fire hydrant on Laugavegur. Interestingly, Reykjavik’s wastewater system predates its water supply system.
The Book Cloacina – The History of Wastewater Systems
Veitur has published Cloacina – The History of Wastewater Systems, authored by historian Guðjón Friðriksson. This book chronicles the wastewater history of Reykjavik over the past century, along with Veitur’s involvement in similar operations in Akranes and Borgarbyggð. It complements previous publications on the history of the city’s water, electricity, and geothermal heating systems. The development of the wastewater system, which has seen remarkable advancements over the last century, is now documented for the first time.
The book is available for download as a PDF.
Common Questions and Answers About the Sewage System
Where are the pumping stations located?
The pumping stations are located along the coastline, they transport sewage to the treatment plants at Ánanaust and Klettagarðar. From there, the sewage is treated and pumped about 4 kilometers out into Faxaflói.
How do pumping stations work?
- Sewage pumping stations pump all wastewater to treatment plants at Ánanaust and Klettagarðar under normal conditions.
- Overflow pumps are activated during heavy rainfall, sending diluted sewage out to sea. If the equipment stops, emergency valves open, releasing all sewage just beyond the shoreline. These emergency valves are designed to prevent sewage from flooding people's homes if the pumping stations fail.
- The drainage system is designed to direct sewage into the sea rather than into people's homes in case of malfunction.
Under normal circumstances, the stations can handle the sewage flow. during heavy rainfall, the stations might not cope with the increased water. Then the overflow pumps kick in, discharging the excess diluted sewage about 200 meters out to sea.
Water is flooding into my house, what should í do?
If water is flooding into your property:
- Call a pumping service/drain service and your insurance company.
Check the drains and identify where the water is entering.
- Outdoor drains: This is normal during unusually heavy rainfall, and there’s little that can be done other than minimizing the damage. For example, block doors and seal areas. If outdoor drains are clogged, try to clear them and do so regularly.
Indoor drains: If water comes up through indoor drains, it may be possible to pump it elsewhere, but avoid pumping it into the bathtub or outdoor drains. These could be part of the same system, which would cause the water to come back inside. Instead, try to pump the water outside, for example, into the yard.
If you have a basement pump:
Check if it’s running. It may need to be cleaned along with the pump well. If you need help, contact a plumber.
Is all sewage within the Reykjavík area collected for central sewage treatment?
According to Veitur's sewage system staff, the amount of sewage within the urban area of Reykjavík that is not collected for central treatment is estimated to be at least less than 1%.
What is in the sewage?
The sewage system carries everything that is flushed down toilets, water from showers, baths, sinks, washing machines, and other household appliances that use hot or cold water. A big portion of the sewage is geothermal water used for heating homes, which makes the sewage here different from most other countries.
Who notifies when untreated sewage is discharged into the sea?
We at Veitur send notifications to the Reykjavík Health Inspection Authority when sewage is discharged into the sea from our pump stations. The status of emergency valves can be monitored through the sewage system viewer, and we also post notifications on our website.
The Reykjavík Health Inspection Authority is responsible for monitoring pollution in coastal waters. Their measurement results can be found here.
If the Reykjavík Health Inspection Authority's measurements indicate a potential health risk due to pollution, they issue warnings.
How much pollution is caused by untreated sewage being discharged into the sea?
Several factors influence the pollution from sewage discharged into the sea. The amount of sewage, the duration of the discharge, the degree to which the sewage is mixed with geothermal and surface water, as well as weather conditions and ocean currents, all play a role in determining the level of
Life span of E.coli per month
Life span of E. coli per season
MONTH LIFE SPAN OF E. COLI T90 January 9 hours February 8 hours March 5 hours April 4 hours May 3 hours June 1 hours July 2 hours August 3 hours September 5 hours October 8 hours November 9 hours December 10 hours Source: Vatnaskil consulting engineering company 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999
How long can pollution be expected to last?
Sewage related bacteria multiply poorly or not at all in water. Sunlight breaks down fecal bacteria, so we expect fecal contamination to decrease rapidly once detected. So weather conditions also affect how long the contamination is.
The lifespan of fecal coliform bacteria is estimated in hours. It is measured by the time it takes for 90% of the bacteria to die (T90).