The latest news from Eawag

When there is a prolonged dry spell and local authorities call on residents to save water, questions immediately arise as to whether it would make sense to reuse more water and collect rainwater. In light of recent events, here are some answers from Prof. Kai Udert, Head of the Process Engineering Department at 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.

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.