Illuminates that we are vulnerable – VG

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Oslo’s water supply comes mainly from Maridalsvannet and rivers and lakes connected to the water. One of the lakes is Gjerdingen, which is currently being drained to rehabilitate the dam facility. This, together with the lack of precipitation, is the reason why the municipality goes out with this call.

Jørgensen nevertheless says that there is no danger of the water being used up or suddenly disappearing from the tap.

– You still go out and warn?

– The probability is not high, but we warn because it is a possibility. That is why we want to secure ourselves. If everyone contributes, it can make a big difference.

There may be more measures

According to Jørgensen, the water supply should be 80 per cent, while today it is 70 per cent. He says that the municipality has an action plan, which they must implement when the water supply is 70 percent or less.

Jørgensen says that there is no acute danger at the moment, but that they see that we now have to save water. He says it is uncertain how long the recommendations will last, and that it depends on the weather ahead.

– If it continues with little rainfall and we have little water, we may have to go out with even more measures, such as restrictions on garden irrigation.

He says that Oslo every year depends on good snowmelt in Nordmarka, which ends in Maridalsvannet.

– When there is little snow, it is worrying. We know that Oslo has a vulnerable drinking water supply, because we only have one water.

– How vulnerable is Oslo?

– Most others have a backup solution, we do not have that. Should worse things than this happen, where we get a complete loss of water, the city will have to evacuate. It will be very critical, but it is difficult to know. Things like this shed light on the fact that we are vulnerable, says Jørgensen.

Following an order from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the municipality is building a new water supply from Holsfjorden. This will be in place in 2028, and according to Jørgensen, the municipality is well on track.

Advice for the population

The Water and Sewerage Authority provides more advice on its website on how the people of Oslo can step down on the water. Jørgensen himself says that he cuts down the shower and does not let the water run when he brushes his teeth.

– These are small measures, which we can all do, he says.

These are the measures recommended by the Water and Sewerage Agencies:

• Take shorter showers and turn off the water while applying soap or shampoo.
• Do not run the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Use eco-program on the dishwasher.
• Save the laundry until the washing machine is completely full.
• Use the “little button” on the toilet when pulling down.

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