Department Surface Waters - Research and Management

Surface Waters - Research & Management (Surf)

We focus both on processes in the aquatic environment as well as on entire systems of natural waters.

We perform basic and applied research and several projects have a problem-oriented and interdisciplinary focus, including system analysis. Read more

News

Monitoring antibiotic resistance in wastewater

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria enter wastewater treatment plants through sewers. An Eawag research team investigated how they penetrate from there into the environment. (Photo: Alessandro Della Bella)
November 15, 2022 –

Researchers at Eawag recommend setting up a monitoring system for antibiotic resistance in the synthesis report of the National Research Programme NRP 72 Antimicrobial resistance, similar to the wastewater monitoring for...

Researchers at Eawag recommend setting up a monitoring system for antibiotic resistance in the synthesis report of the National Research Programme NRP 72 Antimicrobial resistance, similar to the wastewater monitoring for Sars-CoV-2.
Read more

More news

Latest Publications

Olokotum, M., Humbert, J. F., Quiblier, C., Okello, W., Semyalo, R., Troussellier, M., … Bernard, C. (2022). Characterization of potential threats from cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Victoria embayments and during water treatment. Toxins, 14(10), 664 (23 pp.). doi:10.3390/toxins14100664, Institutional Repository

Africa’s water needs are often supported by eutrophic water bodies dominated by cyanobacteria posing health threats to riparian populations from cyanotoxins, and Lake Victoria is no exception. In two embayments of the lake (Murchison Bay and Napoleon Gulf), cyanobacterial surveys were conducted to characterize the dynamics of cyanotoxins in lake water and water treatment plants. Forty-six cyanobacterial taxa were recorded, and out of these, fourteen were considered potentially toxigenic (i.e., from the genera Dolichospermum, Microcystis, Oscillatoria, Pseudanabaena and Raphidiopsis). A higher concentration (ranging from 5 to 10 µg MC-LR equiv. L−1) of microcystins (MC) was detected in Murchison Bay compared to Napoleon Gulf, with a declining gradient from the inshore (max. 15 µg MC-LR equiv. L−1) to the open lake. In Murchison Bay, an increase in Microcystis sp. biovolume and MC was observed over the last two decades. Despite high cell densities of toxigenic Microcystis and high MC concentrations, the water treatment plant in Murchison Bay efficiently removed the cyanobacterial biomass, intracellular and dissolved MC to below the lifetime guideline value for exposure via drinking water (<1.0 µg MC-LR equiv. L−1). Thus, the potential health threats stem from the consumption of untreated water and recreational activities along the shores of the lake embayments. MC concentrations were predicted from Microcystis cell numbers regulated by environmental factors, such as solar radiation, wind speed in the N–S direction and turbidity. Thus, an early warning through microscopical counting of Microcystis cell numbers is proposed to better manage health risks from toxigenic cyanobacteria in Lake Victoria.
Bürgmann, H., Egli, A., Endimiani, A., Stephan, R., Tschudin Sutter, S., & Hardt, W. D. (2022). Routes and reservoirs of AMR-determinants & one health AMR-surveillance. Thematic synthesis of the national research programme "Antimicrobial Resistance". Bern: National Research Programme “Antimicrobial Resistance” (NRP 72). , Institutional Repository

New findings enable concrete measures at individual interfaces of AMR spread

The aim of the synthesis process on this topic was to derive recommendations from NRP 72 research that promote the implementation of new findings in practice. The focus of many projects was on the interfaces where antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread between humans, animals and the environment. In this One Health context, many research findings of NRP 72 provide the basis for concrete measures to interrupt or restrict transmission chains.
In addition to these concrete findings, it has also become apparent that the methods used in NRP 72 research are of great importance: It is a common feature of the projects presented in this thematic synthesis that they have applied new gene sequencing methods, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), plasmid sequencing and metagenomics. These methods have developed very quickly in the last few years and are a prerequisite for the new insights presented here. [...]

Surf Seminars

05.12.​2022,
11.00 am
Eawag Kastanienbaum, Seeheim & Online
Trace metal isotopes as potential proxies for productivity
12.12.​2022,
11.00 am
Eawag Kastanienbaum, Seeheim & Online
From alkalinity to CO2: the forgotten half of lakes’ carbon cycle

Graduate Studies in our department

Video about Graduate Studies in the department Surface waters - Research and Management

Video about Graduate Studies in our department

Research Projects

Wastewater is a source of antibiotic resistant bacteria. We study their dissemination in the aquatic environment, and strategies to remove them.

Antibiotic resistance as an emerging environmental contaminant
Lakes store large amounts of heat. To what extent can this heat be used to replace the use of fossil fuels or electricity for heating and cooling purposes?

Using lakes for heating and cooling
We assess the environmental impacts of hydropower plants to support a sustainable development of this energy resource.

Effects of hydropower on surface waters
4’000 river kilometers will be rehabilitated in Switzerland over the course of the coming 80 years – a unique opportunity for learning!

Evaluating the outcome of river rehabilitation projects

More current Research Projects