Like a Fish in the Rhine – Professor swims, Eawag analyses
Chemistry professor Andreas Fath from the Furtwangen University in Baden-Württemberg is looking for money for new analysis equipment and for water research at his institute. From 28 July to 24 August he will swim the entire Rhine for this purpose, from the mountains in Graubünden to Rotterdam, including Lake Constance! The Rhine Water Project is, however, more than just a show: along with those accompanying him, Fath will take water samples all along the way and document the changes in Rhine water quality along the whole stretch, analysing also passive collections that cling to his neoprene suit. [...]

More phosphorus in Lake Lucerne? Eawag is critical.
First Lake Brienz, and now Lake Lucerne – calls are being increasingly made for there to be more phosphorus in Lake Lucerne. The Neuen Luzerner Zeitung argues that the lake is too clean, which is why the fishermen’s yields are too small. Experts at Eawag are critical of the demands to cut down on phosphorus removal at the water treatment plants. They have produced a paper which details the reasons for their stance on the matter.

Wastewater reveals drug consumption picture
Wastewater contains traces of drugs and their metabolites. This allows us to draw conclusions on drug use – not of individuals, but of entire cities. A study carried out in 2012 and 2013 in 42 European cities shows that above-average quantities of cocaine are consumed in Basel, Geneva, St. Gallen and Zurich. Berne sits in the mid-range, whilst Antwerp and Amsterdam come out on top. [...]