Department Water Resources and Drinking Water

Groundwater temperatures influence water quality, ecosystems, and geothermal energy potential.
This project analyses long-term groundwater temperature observations across Switzerland.
Data from springs, abstraction wells, and piezometers are evaluated over multiple decades.
Robust statistical methods quantify warming trends and seasonal patterns. Results show measurable groundwater warming at most monitoring locations. Seasonal signals, lag times, and damping reveal subsurface heat transport and residence times. Comparisons between air and groundwater temperatures assess climate coupling strength. Hydrogeological and environmental factors explain spatial variability in warming trends. Forecasting approaches estimate future groundwater temperatures under continued climate change. The project supports climate adaptation, groundwater protection, and sustainable water management.