# Tap water undrinkable in Norwegian town as thawing permafrost releases heavy metals

https://mins.news/en/item/105736

- The Guardian, 2026-10-19 05:00 UTC
- Health
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/19/tap-water-no-longer-drinkable-norwegian-town-climate-related-thawing-heavy-metals-arctic-longyearbyen-svalbard

> Residents of Longyearbyen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago have been told not to drink tap water. Scientists link the contamination to thawing permafrost exposing pyrite-rich bedrock, from which metals leach into the water. Manganese was once 25 times the recommended limit, and sulphate and nickel later also exceeded guidelines, keeping the ban in place.