The latest news from Eawag

Treated wastewater can be continuously monitored using online monitoring with organisms. The data obtained in this way makes it possible to respond quickly to acute stress. (Photo: Ecotox Centre)
News
Early detection for wastewater treatment plants
June 17, 2025

Researchers from the Ecotox Centre, Eawag and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland have tested combined biological and chemical online monitoring as an early warning system at a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The system is able to detect peak loads of micropollutants in treated wastewater and identify toxic pollutants in real time. In this way, it can contribute to improving wastewater management.

Lake Geneva (Photo: Michael Heck/Pixabay).
News
Cold shock in Lake Geneva – Alplakes shows why
June 10, 2025

A sudden drop in temperature in Lake Geneva over the Whitsun weekend is leaving swimmers feeling chilly: within a few days, the surface water temperature near the city of Geneva fell by around 8 degrees. This is due to a natural phenomenon that can be observed impressively on the Alplakes platform.

Earthworms play an important role in soil ecosystems (Photo: Ecotox Centre).
News
Earthworms avoid tyre abrasion
May 21, 2025

Tyre abrasion gets from the road into adjacent soils and affects soil organisms. A joint study by the Ecotox Centre, the aquatic research institute Eawag and the EPFL now shows that earthworms avoid soil that is heavily contaminated with tyre particles. However, the particles had no negative effects on the survival and reproduction of the animals.

Flood of the Rhone near Sierre in June 2024 (Photo: Canton Valais).
News
Review of the 2024 water policy
May 13, 2025

The year 2024 was very warm and very wet, especially in early summer. This led to a welcome replenishment of groundwater reservoirs and record hydropower production, but also to severe flooding. In Bern, the focus was on the further expansion of hydropower and the pollution of water resources by pesticides and the "eternal chemicals" PFAS.