| Title | Groundwater flow paths of Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland - The mapping of flow paths using elemental tracers and development of new mobile electric pump |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alexandra K. Hafsteinsdóttir |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | In 2020, a new volcanic episode began on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. These eruptions pose a significant threat to local water resources, including drinking water supplies, water supplies for the production of hot water for district heating in the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, and the distribution of hot and cold water in the area. In order to locate alternative water sources, should current ones be contaminated or inundated by lava flows or volcanic emissions, it is essential to map the peninsula’s groundwater flow paths. This is especially critical if specific flow paths become compromised by volcanic constituents such as fluoride or heavy metals. The objectives of this study are twofold. Firstly, the research aims to trace and map groundwater flow paths across the peninsula by measuring water levels, elemental tracers, and conductivity in groundwater samples collected from boreholes. A similar study was conducted in 1985 by Freysteinn Sigurðsson; since then, numerous boreholes have been drilled, providing the opportunity to update and refine the existing hydrogeological model. Secondly, the study will test the performance of a newly developed electric pump by ÍSOR (Iceland Geosurvey), designed for sampling groundwater from narrow boreholes where the use of conventional mobile pumps is impractical. The reliability of this new pump will be assessed by comparing the quality and consistency of the samples it collects against those obtained using standard pumping methods. |