Research Focus

Eawag research focuses on three main areas:

Aquatic Ecosystems

Aware of the tensions between the use and protection of water resources, Eawag carries out research on aquatic ecosystems such as streams, rivers and lakes. It is especially concerned with the restoration of near-natural habitats and with questions relating to the preservation of biodiversity. Eawag investigates the impacts of human interventions and the effects of climate change on water resources, and provides scientific foundations for successful restoration projects.

Urban Water Systems

Eawag develops modern, resource-conserving strategies and technologies for the provision of water supplies and the management of wastewater, faecal sludge and urine. In these efforts, engineers and environmental scientists collaborate closely with social scientists.

To assure the quality and quantity of drinking water supplies over the long term, Eawag investigates physical and chemical processes in ground and surface waters. It studies wastewater purification and drinking water treatment from an engineering perspective and, in interdisciplinary projects, develops sustainable approaches for the management of water and nutrient cycles in urban areas.

In developing countries, contaminated water and inadequate sanitation pose a serious threat to human health. A billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, and two billion do not have even the most rudimentary sanitary facilities. In research projects explicitly dedicated to the needs of developing countries, Eawag applies its expertise in order to improve living conditions in these regions.

Chemicals and Effects

Eawag is an internationally recognized centre of expertise in the assessment of environmental risks. It investigates the chemical state of the aquatic environment, assesses risks and develops new approaches for the management of problematic chemicals. The contaminants studied are synthetic, biogenic or geogenic.