Residents of Kirkenes in Sør-Varanger, Norway, have been told to stop all private water consumption with immediate effect, NRK reported. On Tuesday morning, the municipality said a new assessment showed current use will empty the elevated reservoir in Kirkenes completely by 19:00 on Tuesday.
“That means we will run out of water in the elevated reservoir before we have restored water supply via the main water line,” the municipality said. It asked people to close all taps. The order is meant to water for Prestøyhjemmet, Eldresenteret, Wesselborgen and Kirkenes Legesenter until the main water line is repaired.
“The situation is serious and the municipality’s crisis management will prioritise the most vulnerable groups in this situation,” it said.
The second leak on the water line in under a week was found quickly, but necessary pipe parts must be flown in. Repair can happen at the earliest during Tuesday evening. The first leak came last Thursday and led to closed schools and red emergency at Kirkenes sykehus.
After Monday’s leak, patient appointments were cancelled and planned operations postponed.
Kirkenes sykehus is the only hospital in Øst-Finnmark. The nearest alternatives are Hammerfest and Tromsø, 50 and 70 Norwegian miles away. Shops in Kirkenes ordered more drinking water after stocks were stripped.
The municipality said staffing at municipal institutions has been increased. The fire service set up a duty arrangement to refill the hospital’s reserve tank if needed, and the Civil Defence established a pump watch to secure refill if necessary.
The police station in Kirkenes is closed today, including its public reception, police said. Police maintain ordinary duty and emergency service and ask people to call 02800 if they need assistance. The leaks have increased attention to the condition of pipe networks in Norway, where the maintenance backlog is.
A report from Norsk Vann estimates that Norwegian municipalities must invest over 200 billion kroner in water and sewage pipes over the next 20 years.
What to do
- Official preparedness advice: DSB, sikkerhverdag.no.
- Emergency: 112 (police), 110 (fire), 113 (ambulance).