Low water level in Hvaleyrarvatn

Hvaleyrarvatn has been on the minds of local residents for the past few weeks due to a lack of water. Last summer, there was often a real beach atmosphere by the lake, but the situation is different now.

 
The water level in Hvaleyrarvatn is linked to the groundwater level, which is currently very low. This low groundwater level is thought to be due to a snow-free last winter and rather low rainfall over the summer. The water level in the lagoons at Kaldárbotnar is also low.

 
Guðmundur Elíasson, Environmental and Utilities Manager for the City of Hafnarfjörður, says that if this situation does not start to change, the water level in the boreholes is expected to drop. Therefore, it would be unsafe to increase the volume of water being pumped into Lake Hvaleyri. This could have an impact on the water supply's capacity and security of supply.

Gudmundur also says that an engineering firm specialising in groundwater measurements has been contacted to examine the causal relationship, i.e.a.s. whether the extraction at Vatnsenda Kriki has any effect on this area and whether anything can be done to prevent the water level of Hvaleyrarvatn from dropping so much.

It should be noted that the outdoor artwork Wishful thinking , which produces a rainbow when the sun shines, which was installed in June in the area pumps water from the same pipe and in the same quantity as before into the water.

Obviously, some rain is needed to raise the water level in Hvaleyrarvatn any time soon, but sun-starved beach lovers should find plenty to keep them entertained until then, such as having a wash in the rainbow. Isn't that a real wish-come-true moment?