Environment pollution

Paint is believed to have entered the River Sauðá in Sauðárkrókur. Skagafjörður reported possible pollution in the river yesterday.The municipality of Skagafjörður reported possible pollution in the River Sauðá in Skagafjörður on Facebook yesterday. The announcement said that a substance may have entered the river and was now being carried downstream.Paint is believed to have entered the river in some way, Svavar Sigurðsson, a public health inspector with the North West Iceland Public Health Authority, told RÚV.It appears to be ordinary paint rather than oil-based paint, fortunately.Svavar says nothing is known for certain, however, and strongly urges residents to get in touch if they have any information that could shed further light on the matter.If any resident has accidentally dropped or spilt paint, I would very much like to know how much was involved so that we can get to the bottom of the matter.Rainwater enters the river through drains in the town, so the public health authority checked whether there were any signs that paint had been poured into the drains, but none were found. Svavar says pollution in Sauðá has not previously been a problem.The river flows within its own channel and is not affected by through-currents, meaning the pollution is localised. Svavar says this may be good news.A statement from the municipality of Skagafjörður says the matter is being taken seriously. Residents and other visitors are asked to exercise caution and avoid contact with the water.Anyone who may have information that could shed further light on the matter is asked to contact the North Iceland Public Health Authority.