Science that matters

Eawag is one of the world’s leading aquatic research institutes. With its professional diversity, close partnerships with practitioners and an international network, Eawag offers an excellent environment for the study of water as a habitat and resource, for identifying problems at an early stage and for developing widely accepted solutions.

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The latest news from Eawag

The latest news from Eawag

News
How much water is left for nature? – The search ...
July 2, 2025

After water is diverted for hydropower, rivers are often left with very little streamflow for nature. A new report provides an overview.

The thermal spa in Lavey-les-Bains uses naturally warm groundwater (Photo: Alain Baschenis).
News
Underground microbial life more stable than ...
July 1, 2025

Microbial communities living deep underground in the groundwater of Lavey-les-Bains remain surprisingly stable throughout the year, even though the composition of the water changes seasonally. This is the finding of a study by Eawag researchers that contributes to a better understanding of geothermal systems and microbial life deep underground.

Cover picture: Abishek Narayan (Photo: Leonardo Biasio, Eawag).
News
Abishek Narayan becomes a member of the Swiss ...
June 26, 2025

The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have elected eight new members to the Swiss Young Academy, including Abishek Narayan, a Scientist in the Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) at the aquatic research institute 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.

Photo: Glen Dsouza
News
Bacteria eat bacteria
June 12, 2025

Many bacteria produce a protein complex to inject poison in their neighbouring cells. This was previously thought to eliminate their competitors. But now researchers at Eawag and ETH Zurich have shown: The killer bacteria can act as biological predators that feed on their prey.