Drinking Water and Wind Farms

Background

A wind power plant may pollute the surrounding environment during its establishment, operation, and decommissioning. If the plant is within a water catchment area for drinking water, it may pose a pollution risk to the drinking water.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is a consultation body when wind power plants are being established, which is why they requested an overview of the requirements that should be set for the environmental impact assessments.

This is a commission from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, which supervises drinking water.

See this page for more information: Risk of drinking water pollution when establishing wind power plants - The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment.

About the Protocol

VKM has developed a protocol for how we will complete the task of developing requirements for information about, and risk assessment of, the dangers when applying for the establishment of wind power plants. The protocol covers the use of chemical substances and other relevant pollution that may pose a risk to drinking water throughout the wind power plant's life cycle (construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning).

The Project Group

Jan Alexander (Scientific Leader)

Anders Ruus

Espen Mariussen

Martin Schlabach

Inger-Lise Steffensen

Helen Engelstad Kvalem

The protocol has been approved by VKM's Panel for Contaminants and published 24. Februar. The project report is expected to be completed by December 2025.