Environmental Focus
Blue Lagoon is based upon an amazing gift of nature: our unique source of geothermal seawater. Therefore everything we do is driven by a respect for the natural environment. We are proud to be a leading company in terms of green thinking and to be 100% powered by clean geothermal energy.
We see Blue Lagoon as a part of an ecocycle, where nature and science work in harmony, with as little environmental impact as possible. Blue Lagoon is a part of the Svartsengi Resource Park – a concept based on ecological balance, economic prosperity and social progress.
The Ecocycle
The key to the unique relationship between nature and science at Blue Lagoon is what we like to call the Ecocycle.
Iceland’s high-temperature geothermal areas are found inside the spreading zone of two tectonic plates: the American and the Eurasian. Iceland straddles the two, resulting in the country's active volcanic systems. A cold mixture of seawater and ground water meets cooling magmatic intrusions deep in the earth, where it is rapidly heated and moves towards the surface. The temperature of this geothermal fluid exceeds 200°C at a depth of less than 1 km.
The energy company HS Orka extracts the geothermal fluid from its reservoir by drilling deep wells of up to 2000 metres. The geothermal fluid, which reaches 240°C, is then used to heat freshwater for central heating and to create electricity.
This unusual and ecologically sound power plant – the only one of its kind in the world – provides hot water for central heating for around 17,000 people and electricity for 45,000, including Blue Lagoon.
The geothermal seawater is led directly to Blue Lagoon, Blue Lagoon Clinic and the Research and Development Center, where its active ingredients are isolated and used in Blue Lagoon skincare.
The following table shows the concentration of major elements in Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater, in ppm (mg/Kg):
Chemical |
mg/kg of fluid |
| Silica (SiO2) | 251 |
| Sodium (Na) | 7.643 |
| Potassium (K) | 1.117 |
| Calsium (Ca) | 1.274 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0,60 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | 11,4 |
| Sulphate (SO4) | 31,8 |
| Chlorine (Cl) | 15.740 |
| Fluorine (F) | 0,18 |
| Total Soluble Chemicals | 25,800 mg/kg |
Architecture & design
Architecture and design at Blue Lagoon are an important part of our vision for harmonising with nature.
Blue Lagoon’s facilities, including the Blue Lagoon spa and Blue Lagoon Clinic, were designed by Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir from Basalt architects. The aim of the design was, she says, to “protect the environment and respect its geological history. Pure Icelandic materials from moss and stones characterize the design. We wanted to emphasize the relationship between nature and the man-made”.
This is obvious from the moment you approach Blue Lagoon along a 200-metre footpath cut through lava rock, as if nature is guiding you through a natural maze. And, inside, an incredible lava wall (containing about 70,000 pieces) connects the building to the natural rocks surrounding the bathing lagoon, as the structure’s soft lines blend with the rugged landscape.
The Blue Flag
Blue Lagoon is proud to display The Blue Flag award. The Blue Flag is an environmental certification awarded to coastal or inland water environments that meet stringent quality standards.
Water quality
We regularly monitor our geothermal seawater for quality and send samples to an independent and officially authorised laboratory. To retain the Blue Flag accreditation, our bathing water must be continuously monitored for three different types of bacteria, shown in the tables below. The water is monitored at least every fortnight throughout the season. In the table you can see when the water was 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 Blue Lagoon:
Date |
Faecal Coliform |
Total Coliform |
Faecal Streptoc. |
| 16. January 2013 |
23 |
9 | 3 |
| 2. January 2013 |
49 |
9 | 7 |
| 18. December 2012 |
9 |
7 | <1 |
| 6. December 2012 |
5 |
<1 | <1 |
| 20. November 2012 |
11 |
11 | <1 |
| 7. November 2012 |
5 |
2 | 12 |
| 24. October 2012 |
23 |
5 | 2 |
| 9. October 2012 |
23 |
2 | 6 |
| 25. September 2012 |
5 |
5 | <1 |
| 11. September 2012 |
16 |
6 | <1 |
| 28. August 2012 |
9 |
9 | <1 |
|
18. July 2012 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
|
3. July 2012 |
33 |
16 |
22 |
|
22. June 2012 |
33 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
7. June 2012 |
4 |
<1 |
<1 |
|
25. May 2012 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
|
10. May 2012 |
5 |
<2 |
1 |
|
26. April 2012 |
13 |
2 |
1 |
|
16.April 2012 |
16 |
1 |
7 |
|
29. March 2012 |
9 |
9 |
3 |
|
15. March 2012 |
2 |
2 |
<1 |
|
23 February 2012 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
9. February 2012 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
26. January 2012 |
2 |
<2 |
<1 |
|
12. January 2012 |
<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: Allowable a few times during the season. |
500–10.000: Allowable a few times during the season. |
Below 100: Allowable a few times during the season. |
|
Over 2.000: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. Blue Flag must be taken down. |
Over 10.000: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. Blue Flag must be taken down. |
Over 100: Indicates possible pollution from sewage. Blue Flag must be taken down. |