optimized water flow
First Water’s ambitious facility is being developed in six phases, with Phase 1 now underway. The site features 158 tanks in varying sizes — 20m, 25m, and 28m in diameter — designed to optimize water flow and fish well-being.
Project Partners
- First Water
First Water’s facility leverages Iceland’s pristine subterranean seawater, naturally filtered through volcanic rock and heated by geothermal energy. This hybrid system, combining elements of both Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Flow-Through System (FTS) technologies, reduces technological and environmental risks while ensuring stable water conditions for optimal fish growth.
Octaform Advantages
Streamlined installation
Faster Installation with Parallel Tank Construction
Efficient integration
Seamless Integration of Pipe Penetrations and Access Points
Enhanced tank durability
Superior Durability with Octaform’s Smooth, Low-Maintenance PVC Liner
Outcomes
Octaform’s stay-in-place PVC formwork and liner system was chosen for its unique ability to meet the project’s demanding requirements. Key design challenges included accommodating:
- Large pipe penetrations for efficient water circulation
- Intersections for water treatment modules integrated directly into tank walls
- Man doors in each tank for safe and convenient access
Octaform’s flexible design capabilities allowed these features to be incorporated without compromising structural integrity or installation efficiency. Additionally, Octaform’s system enabled multiple tanks to be constructed in parallel, accelerating the overall project timeline.
First Water
First Water is a groundbreaking Icelandic land-based salmon farming project located in Þorlákshöfn, dedicated to setting new standards in sustainable aquaculture. With a goal to produce 50,000 tons of salmon (HOG) annually by 2029, the facility’s innovative design emphasizes efficiency, fish welfare, and environmental responsibility.
Conclusion
By utilizing Octaform, First Water achieved:
- Streamlined installation with multiple tanks built in parallel
- Efficient integration of essential system features like pipe penetrations and access points
- Enhanced tank durability with Octaform’s smooth, cleanable PVC liner, reducing maintenance
With First Water’s first harvest completed in May 2023 and production targets set to reach 1,500 tons in 2024, the project’s modular design is paving the way for sustainable growth toward its 50,000-ton vision by 2029.
Octaform’s adaptable system proved essential in supporting First Water’s innovative approach, ensuring both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility in one of Iceland’s most ambitious aquaculture projects to date.
