The latest news from Eawag

The current heatwave makes it easy to forget that the first half of 2025 was already marked by severe drought and that snow reserves from the winter were low. A review of water policy developments in 2025 shows that, rather than the availability of water, the Federal Parliament once again focused on the use of hydropower. On the subject of water quality, discussions centred on setting limit values for PFAS and calls for a simplified authorisation process for pesticides.

Groundwater, our most important source of drinking water, faces a wide range of threats. A survey of experts shows that: the challenges are well known. However, effective protection requires better cooperation, more rigorous implementation of existing measures and long-term political commitment.

When planning blue-green infrastructure, greater emphasis must be placed on biological aspects. Systems with higher biodiversity function more effectively.

A global analysis of fish biodiversity using environmental DNA (eDNA) reveals how human activity and climate influence biodiversity patterns in river ecosystems. An international research team led by the University of Zurich, Eawag and Yunnan University has found that in warmer climates biodiversity accumulation is more pronounced as river catchment size increases, while human activities weaken this relationship.

An Eawag project in Bengaluru, India, is opening up new ways to respond to droughts and water scarcity. The focus is on the decentralised reuse of treated wastewater. Technological solutions alone cannot resolve the complex water challenges. Social aspects must be considered, as well.

Access to safe drinking water, as defined by the SDGs, modestly protects children from diarrheal diseases. An Eawag study shows which service elements matter most.

Together with SwissCore and the Mission of Switzerland to the EU, Eawag co-hosted the Swiss Science Briefing “Eyes on Water: Space, Science and Resilience to Water” to discuss the central topic of water and water resilience with European partners.

The Federal Council reappoints Martin Ackermann as Eawag director for another term.

A guide helps project leaders restore wetland forests to promote biodiversity and combat climate change.

From a very young age, Astrid Stubbusch wanted to thoroughly explore life in all its forms. In her thesis she showed the astounding strategies that bacteria develop to find food. She has now been awarded the Prix Schläfli for Biology for this work.

Nearly six in ten native European freshwater fish species are now of elevated conservation concern. This is revealed in the Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Artificial groundwater recharge is one way of preparing for increasingly frequent dry spells. The length of time the water spends in the ground between infiltration and extraction is crucial to its quality. A study shows that environmental tracers, which enter rivers via the cooling water from nuclear power stations, can be used to determine this residence time.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world came to a standstill – and many lakes became measurably clearer. A global study shows that lockdowns caused water turbidity in lakes worldwide to drop sharply, particularly in lakeshore regions and river mouths, as a result of reduced industry, traffic and leisure activities.