The Blue Flag
The Blue Lagoon has been awarded The Blue Flag accreditation and now proudly displays the Blue Flag on premises all year around. The Blue Flag is an environmental award given to communities that make a special effort to manage their coastal/inland water environment and beaches with respect for the local environment and nature. To be awarded the Blue Flag, the beach has to fulfill a number of criteria concerning environmental information and education, environmental management, safety and service facilities, and water quality.
This effort ensures that you and your family can expect to visit clean and safe environments at selected bathing sites. And it makes sure that the site maintains a basis for sound development.
Facts about the Blue Flag
The Blue Flag program is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental environmental organization. The Blue Flag is an environmental award for beaches and marinas. Over 40 countries participate in the Program. Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association, represents the Blue Flag in Iceland together with the Association of Health and Environment Inspection, Association of Icelandic Harbours, Icelandic Travel Industry Association, Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, Sailing Association, The Environment Agency of Iceland and Institution of Natural History and Birdlife.
In order to be awarded the Blue Flag the operator must:
- Ensure that the beach is clean
- Work systematically to improve the beaches environment
- Provide information on the beaches ecosystem, birdlife and sensitive areas
- Offer programmes on environmental education
- Ensure that the beach remains tidy and its waters clean
- Offer clean toilet/shower facilities
- Ensure a lifeguard on site, as well as life-savingand first-aid equipment
- Offer reception facilities to separate waste, including recyclable material
- Display water quality analyses regularly in a comprehensive way
The Blue Flag is only awarded for one season at a time and the award is only valid as long as the critera are fulfilled. The national FEE organisation checks the Blue Flag sites during the season, which lasts from 1 May to 30 April. You can assist the programme by telling them how well you think the Blue Lagoon meets Blue Flag criteria. In this way you can help ensure that the standard continues to be maintained.
You can help the program and protect the environment by:
- Enjoying the Blue Lagoon and its natural surroundings, and treating it with respect
- Not walking on the moss and using only marked walking paths
- Using litter bins provided at the the facilities and in the surroundings
- Using the toilets at the facilities
- Not bringing glass to the lagoon area
- Using silica mud mask conservatively and only in the lagoon
- Using public transport to and from the Blue Lagoon
- Reporting eventual pollution and misconduct to Blue Lagoon staff or Landvernd
As a holder of the Blue Flag, the Blue Lagoon fulfills the criteria through: environmental information and education, environmental management, safety and services and water quality.
Environmental information & education
The origin of the Blue Lagoon is at a depth 2000m and its geological history is the foundation of the concept of the entire operation. Knowledge and understanding of the natural environment is crucial for employees and business associates alike. Blue Lagoon offers the following presentations and educational programs:
- Detailed information on the Blue Lagoon in brochures, magazines and tourist guides, signs and posters located at the premises and on our website.
- Presentations to business associates, local communities and other guests.
- The Blue Lagoon science café, which are monthly presentations given on such varied subjects as: DNAmapping of the geothermal seawater, the Blue Lagoon psoriasis treatment and its effectiveness and mapping ofCO2 footprints.
- Educational program for all new employees.
Environmental management
Blue Lagoon is an innovative company in health, wellness and skin care. Its operation is powered 100% by Iceland's clean geothermal energy - an increasingly important element in today's world. The Blue Lagoon management team protects the environment in many ways by:
- Being a part of the Svartsengi/Reykjanes Resource Park, a world unique concept based on sustainable development.
- Using green production methods in harvesting the natural and unique Blue Lagoon active ingredients.
- Protecting the environment and making the facilities harmonize with the natural surroundings. All excess construction material, such as lava, is used for decoration, walls or wind breakers.
- Participating in environmental education with the Icelandic Travel Industry Association
Safety and services
The Blue Lagoon has established and practices a detailed emergency plan. All employees are informed, briefed and trained in accordance to the plan. Lifeguards patrol the bathing area and first-aid and lifesaving equipment is within reach. Blue Lagoon is also a part of a regional emergency plan to cope with possible pollution accidents.
Water quality
The quality of the Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater is monitored regularly and samples sent to an independent and officially authorized laboratory.
The Blue Flag means that a number of requirements regarding bathing water quality, cleaning of the beach, toilets, safety, information and environment activities are fulfilled. It also means that the bathing water is continously monitored for three different types of bacteria shown in the tables below. The bathing water is monitored at least every fortnight throughout the season. In the table you can see when the water has been analyzed and how many bacteria were found. If the results do not meet requirements the Blue Flag must be taken down.
Water quality results for the Blue Lagoon:
| Date | Faecal Coliform | Total Coliform | Faecal Streptoc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. January 2011 | <1 | <1 | 1 |
| 17. November 2011 | 7 | 33 | 3 |
| 2. November 2011 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| 21. October 2011 | 5 | 5 | <1 |
| 6. October 2011 | 2 | 23 | <1 |
| 21. September 2011 | 17 | 33 | <1 |
| 7. September 2011 | 1 | 6 | <1 |
| 25. August 2011 | 3 | 9 | <1 |
| 9. August 2011 | 2 | 3 | <1 |
| 25. July 2011 | 2 | 23 | <1 |
| 15. July 2011 | 1 | 5 | <1 |
| 1. July 2011 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
| 15. June 2011 | 2 | 8 | <1 |
| 3. June 2011 | 6 | 6 | <1 |
| 18. May 2011 | <1 | <1 | <1 |
| 4. May 2011 | <1 | <1 | <1 |
| 20. April 2011 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 8. April 2011 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| 25. March 2011 | <1 | <1 | <1 |
| 10. March 2011 | 2 | 8 | <1 |
| 11. February 2011 | 2 | 2 | <1 |
| 14. January 2011 | 4 | 33 | 1 |
| 30. December 2010 | 16 | 6 | 3 |
| 17. December 2010 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 2. December 2010 | 33 | 33 | <1 |
| 19. November 2010 | 17 | 11 | 4 |
| 5. November 2010 | 2 | 2 | <1 |
| 22. October 2010 | 13 | 16 | 4 |
| 6. October 2010 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 23. September 2010 | <1 | 23 | <1 |
| 10. September 2010 | 13 | 76 | 2 |
| 25. August 2010 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 16. August 2010 | 6 | 33 | 1 |
| 29. July 2010 | 20 | 25 | 1 |
What do the results mean?
| Faecal Coliform | Total Coliform | Faecal Streptococci |
|---|---|---|
| Below 100: Good bathing water. | Below 500: Good bathing water. | Below 100: Good bathing water. |
| 100-2.000: Is allowed a few times during the season. | 500-10.000: Is allowed a few times during the season. | Below 100: Is allowed a few times during the season. |
| Over 2.000: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. The Blue Flag must be taken down. | Over 10.000: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. The Blue Flag must be taken down. | Over 100: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. The Blue Flag must be taken down. |