521A - Reykjavík Water Works 100th Anniversary

The Reykjavík Water Works were founded in 1909, providing the inhabitants of Reykjavík with easy access to plenty of fresh water. This meant a vast increase in water consumption in a short time. Usage of water in Reykjavík rose from 18 litres per day to more than 200 liters per day for each inhabitant soon after the Water Works started operating. All water was taken from 10-140 meters deep wells. The waterworks system of Reykjavík Energy is the largest in the country, serving around half of the country’s population. The Reykjavík Water Works were the first of its kind in the Nordic countries to obtain the ISO 9001 quality standard certificate. The quality of the drinking water is unequivocal. Among the reasons are the protected environment of the waterholes with very low activity around them, the water being fetched from enclosed 10-140 metres deep wells. The greater the depth the less the danger of pollution reaching the ground water. Fresh, clean drinking water close to populated areas is an invaluable resource.