The article on water policy in 2025, which has just been published in the journal Aqua&Gas, provides – for the ninth consecutive year – a broad overview of political events and debates on the subject of water and water bodies in 2025. The online version of the article contains direct links to parliamentary motions, reports and court rulings.

PFAS and hydropower

As in 2024, two water-related issues were at the centre of debates at federal level in 2025: the continued and, where possible, accelerated expansion of hydropower as part of the energy transition, and the pollution of water bodies by plant protection products and PFAS. In both areas, conflicting objectives have come to light that are difficult to resolve. Furthermore, in 2025 it became increasingly apparent, in relation to both issues, that the resources available to reduce pollution or repair past damage are limited. In the case of remediating the ecological impacts of hydropower, the federal government officially informed the cantons that neither the statutory deadline (2030) nor the funding would be sufficient to achieve the targets. Consequently, new, less ambitious targets and extended deadlines were under discussion on the political stage. In the case of plant protection products and PFAS, water monitoring and the review of substance authorisations based on water pollution levels were also called into question.

Drought: A key issue, particularly within the administration

Virtually the whole of Switzerland is very dry in June 2026. As early as June 2025, the FOEN, MeteoSwiss and swisstopo had launched the national drought platform; in June 2025, the FOEN described the increasing heat stress as the greatest climate risk for Switzerland.