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.

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.

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.