News Detail
Review of the Water Policy 2022
April 28, 2023 |
In 2022, the persistently high temperatures and drought in June to August will not only lead to low water levels, excessively warm waters and a high risk of forest fires, but also to parliamentary proposals for savings or optimised use of water resources. The focus on improved groundwater protection can be traced back to the two popular initiatives of 2021, the increased concentrations of degradation products of the banned pesticide chlorothalonil and the report of the National Council's Business Audit Commission on inadequate enforcement.
Large-scale revitalisation projects take time to implement. The cantons of Valais and Vaud are increasing flood protection as part of the third correction of the Rhône and are also planning an ecological upgrade of the Rhône delta in Lake Geneva (swisstopo, rotated 180 degrees, left; visualisation 3e correction du Rhône, right).
Conflicting goals are becoming very apparent
In the case of forever chemicals, two triggers can be identified: the new findings on their toxicity and the high presence of the topic in the media. Finally, the concern about an impending (winter) electricity shortfall is leading to great pressure to further expand Swiss hydropower. It is obvious that this accentuates the conflicting goals of watercourse and landscape protection.
The article just published in the magazine Aqua&Gas gives - for the sixth time in a row - a rough overview of political events and debates on the topic of water and water bodies in 2022. In the online version of the article, the initiatives, reports and judgements are directly linked.
Cover picture: The dry summer of 2022 led to unconventional solutions - such as supplying water to an alp near Grandvillard/FR with army helicopters.
(Picture: DDPS, Jonas Kambli)
Original publication
Online Version with direct links.