Norway’s far northern city of Kirkenes has faced acute water shortages recently, after a series of damage to main water pipes. The regional hospital has been on red alert, schools have had to close and residents were being warned to not even brush their teeth until the pipes are repaired.
Officials were hoping that water would resume running as normal after new parts needed to repair damaged pipes were flown up to Kirkenes on Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon one damaged water main was repaired, covered up again and being rinsed out.
The problems have been linked not to sabotage but rather a need for maintenance and replacement of pipes that are more than 40 years old. The problem is shared by communities all over Norway, with one report suggesting that more than NOK 200 billion is needed to invest in securing water systems over the next 20 years.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
