Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Eawag is one of the world’s leading aquatic research institutes. With its professional diversity, close partnerships with practitioners and an international network, Eawag offers an excellent environment for the study of water as a habitat and resource, for identifying problems at an early stage and for developing widely accepted solutions.

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In areas with a lot of agriculture, nitrate concentrations in groundwater are higher. However, other factors that have been largely overlooked to date can also contribute to high nitrate concentrations. (Photo: BauernZeitung)

News

How artificial intelligence detects nitrate hotspots

December 1, 2025

Eawag researchers are using machine learning to map nitrate pollution in Swiss groundwater. This allows gaps in the measurement network to be filled and the causes of excessive values to be identified. The study is part of a larger project analysing the nitrogen cycle in Switzerland.

Yves Flückiger, President of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, presents James Runnalls, software engineer at Eawag, with the National Open Research Data (ORD) Prize for developing the interactive online platform alplakes for monitoring and forcasting alpine lakes. (Photo: Andres Jordi)

Institutional

Alplakes receives Swiss prize for open research data

November 28, 2025

James Runnalls, software engineer at the aquatic research institute Eawag, receives the National Prize for Open Research Data (ORD) for developing the interactive online platform alplakes for monitoring and forecasting alpine lakes.

Flapper skate, a Critically Endangered species, roam the rugged seabed around Scotland. A new approach makes it possible to track their movements precisely and thus take targeted measures to protect them. (Photo: Simon Bradley)

News

Animal tracking deep underwater

November 27, 2025

A new combination of data and statistical algorithms makes it possible for the first time to precisely track the movements of animals deep underwater. An initial study of flapper skate on the seabed around Scotland will help to develop targeted measures to conserve these Critically Endangered animals and designate suitable protected areas. The results have now been published in Science Advances.

News

Environmental chemist Walter Giger has passed away

November 19, 2025

Walter Giger was a pioneer in the life cycle analysis of environmental pollutants. He analysed, but also insisted that action be taken when the harmfulness of a substance was proven. His work on toxic nonylphenols attracted worldwide attention. Walter Giger passed away on 6 November 2025. With his passing, Eawag and environmental chemistry have lost an outstanding researcher, but for many he was also a good friend.

The toolbox contains three sets of individual sheets that help with planning decentralised wastewater solutions – from defining goals and selecting a strategy to providing an overview of possible technologies. (Photo: Eawag, Peter Penicka)

Publication

Toolbox for planning decentralised sanitation systems

November 18, 2025

An Eawag toolbox provides an overview of technologies for decentralised sanitation systems, their respective advantages and examples of built systems.

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Our newsletter is published six times a year and provides information on current research and development projects, publications and events at the aquatic research institute Eawag. In addition, two special newsletters a year provide in-depth information on a current research topic at Eawag.

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04.12.2025

Practice-oriented course

Emissionen von Reifenpartikeln und Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Eawag: Lucky Draw or Right for All?

4.00 pm

Eawag Dübendorf, room FC C20 & online via Zoom

15.12.2025

Surf Seminar

Assessing the use of trace metal isotopes as an indicator for past biological productivity

11.00 am

Eawag Kastanienbaum, Seminar room Seeheim & online via Zoom

Publication

In Switzerland, most wastewater is treated in centralised treatment plants. Depending on the context, decentralised solutions can also offer advantages. These involve separating the various wastewater streams, treating them decentrally and recovering resources. The Eawag toolbox shows possible technologies for decentralised sanitation systems and helps to find the best solution for each objective.

we are investigating the basis for clean drinking water and sustainable management of drinking water resources.

we are investigating how to optimise wastewater infrastructures and overcome new challenges.

our research contributes to understanding and conserving aquatic biodiversity.

we are investigating biotic communities and their habitats in order to conserve ecosystem services for us humans.

we are investigating the effect of chemical substances on the environment and developing methods to remove them from drinking water, wastewater and bodies of water.