History

In the past 75 years Eawag has played a leading role, not only in Switzerland but also in Europe and in many other countries, in research, consultancy and teaching activities in the fields of aquatic ecology, the environmental behaviour of substances, and urban water management. It can look back on a varied and dynamic past. Starting out as the ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich) Advisory Centre, with three employees, it has developed into an internationally recognised research institute that now has more than 400 employees across two sites in Switzerland. The history of the institute can be roughly divided into five development phases. A historical review provides additional information on the interconnection between Eawag’s activities and the social and political developments in Switzerland.