Due to odour pollution in specific areas

Updated 30.12.2022: The cause of the odour/smell pollution has most likely been identified, and it is believed to be a faulty oil separator. The fault has been repaired and hopefully the smell will soon improve now that a leak in the system has been discovered. This will depend on how quickly the system cleans itself.

Due to odour pollution from drains in specific areas

There have been numerous reports of odour pollution from drains in certain areas of the town, with the problem being most prevalent in the western part of the town. In collaboration with the Health Authority, staff from the City of Hafnarfjörður have taken various measures to find the source, but this has proven difficult.

Among the things that have already been done:

• Staff have visited businesses where various cleaning products are known to be used, such as car valeting stations, but have not noticed anything unusual.
• Staff have contacted petrol stations and requested that their systems be checked.
• Staff have been walking around the areas where most complaints are received, trying to determine the source of the pollution.
• Staff have been going around and opening wells to ascertain the possible source and to check for any oil sheen or the smell of oil or other similar substances.
• An attempt was made to flush the system, and this was done on Christmas Eve.

However, these measures have not yet yielded the desired results, namely to find and eradicate the source. Further flushing of the system will be carried out this week by introducing a large volume of water into the upper-level wells. In addition, the pipes will be imaged near the locations where contamination is most likely.

All suggestions are requested to be sent via The town's feedback portal