The latest news from Eawag

Trainees from Eawag’s analytical and training laboratory assist in the analysis of a wide variety of water samples. A prominent example is the National River Monitoring and Survey Programme (NADUF). In a video, we take a look behind the scenes of the laboratory and show its role for the NADUF programme.

At the recent joint 21st AfWASA International Congress and Exhibition and 7th Conference on Faecal Sludge Management (FSM7), Eawag signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the African Water and Sanitation Association. The two conferences took place under one roof in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

On Saturday, 20 May, the 18th Biennale of Architecture in Venice opened its doors. In the German pavilion, which focuses on building in existing contexts and the recycling economy, also the Nutrient Harvester developed at Eawag is demonstrated. It processes the urine from two on-site dry separation toilets into fertiliser.

Container-based sanitation has the potential to generate carbon credits through avoided greenhouse gas emissions. Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, worked on developing a draft methodology to quantify these emission savings.

The aquatic research institute Eawag has published its latest annual report and looks back on the year 2022. Water is at the heart of the most important environmental issues.

Eawag researcher Johannes Raths has won a prize for his study of increased pollutant absorption with rising water temperatures.

Environmental engineer Wenzel Gruber and microbiologist Robert Niederdorfer – both Eawag postdocs – founded the spin-off Upwater together with two other partners at the beginning of November 2022. It offers measurements for wastewater treatment plants to support them in reducing process instabilities, greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy consumption.

When glaciers retreat, the habitats for cold-water organisms also change. Researchers have now modelled where refuges that are vital for biodiversity in glacial rivers will remain in the future.

Chlorination protects safe water from recontamination after transport and storage. Eawag engineers developed and tested two types of chlorinators.

The hot summer made water supply security a political issue in 2022. Added to this were deficits in groundwater protection and "eternal" chemicals.

The research project “Riverscape” shows the importance of sediment transport for safety and ecology.

In urban India, rising water scarcity and increasing pressure on water supply utilities have prompted the use of treated wastewater as an alternative source. A study of Eawag together with Indian partners explains how the use of sensors and automated chlorination can improve microbial water quality in on-site water reuse systems for increased user safety.

Martin Ackermann has been director of Eawag since 1 January. Enough time to take stock and look ahead to the future direction of the Swiss aquatic research institute.

Mining repeatedly causes water pollution. In the Global South, polluters often get away with it because the waters are seldom monitored. Satellite data can provide evidence of the origin, spread and extent of environmental disasters.

Ecologist Florian Altermatt has been promoted to full professor of aquatic ecology by the University of Zurich. What fascinates him about research and why is he committed to academic teaching?

Nitrous oxide is one of the main greenhouse gases and also contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. One of the places where it is released is in wastewater treatment plants. A study has now investigated how much of this is due to the treatment of sludge liquid, which is to be expanded over the next few years.