Scientists urge Switzerland to protect groundwater from drought risks

Since spring 2026, exceptional drought has exposed the pressure building beneath Switzerland’s surface. Rivers have shrunk, landscapes have dried and groundwater has come under closer scrutiny across the country and much of Europe. The Swiss Academy of Sciences, SCNAT, is now urging authorities to move faster on protection, infrastructure resilience and water management.

The stakes are national. Groundwater supplies about 80% of Switzerland’s drinking water, according to figures cited by Swiss public broadcaster SRF and Swissinfo. It also supports farms, factories and ecosystems. During dry periods, underground reserves help sustain rivers and streams, contributing between 30% and 80% of their total runoff, depending on the season and the type of groundwater.

Christian Möck, who heads the Swiss groundwater network at the Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, said Switzerland’s reserves remain broadly stable. Local and regional effects can still be severe, he warned, particularly as climate change brings more frequent droughts and heavy rainfall.

SCNAT wants a comprehensive strategy that allows groundwater to be replenished and maintained at good quality. The call comes as the federal government prepares its own national water management plan.

Groundwater is Switzerland’s hidden water reserve, yet its condition varies sharply from one region to another. Aquifers can soften the impact of dry weather, but they do not provide an unlimited emergency supply. Their ability to recover depends on rainfall, geology, land use and the speed at which water can filter into the ground.

Möck said groundwater is “not doing so badly” nationally, while stressing that drought can produce serious local or regional effects. That distinction matters for municipalities, farmers and industries drawing from the same water system. A healthy national picture can conceal pressure around individual springs, wells or river catchments.

The drought also revealed gaps in knowledge. A related Swissinfo report described a vital spring in the canton of Fribourg where record dry conditions still showed a reassuring amount of water, while the broader supply picture continued to shift. Officials and researchers need consistent measurements to understand those changes and anticipate shortages.

SCNAT is calling for groundwater to be renewed and kept clean. That means protecting recharge areas, tracking water quality and planning withdrawals with local conditions in mind. It also requires better information about how water moves between the ground, rivers and wetlands.

The federal government is preparing a water strategy designed to manage conflicts before they become crises. Katrin Schneeberger, director of the Federal Office for the Environment, said the plan will improve the data available to decision makers, identify competing uses early and support sustainable management over the long term.

Those competing uses are already visible in a dry year. Drinking water networks, agriculture, industry, hydropower and ecosystems all depend on reliable supplies, while wetlands and rivers need enough water to remain functioning habitats. Switzerland’s reputation as Europe’s water tower does not remove the need to retain water when precipitation patterns change.

Schneeberger said the country must preserve waterways and wetlands, monitor water quality and examine ways to store or retain water. These measures place groundwater within a wider system rather than treating wells and springs as isolated infrastructure.

The strategy could also help clarify responsibilities among the Confederation, cantons and municipalities. Water management is implemented locally, but drought can cross administrative boundaries. Shared monitoring and stronger planning would give authorities a clearer basis for deciding when to limit withdrawals, protect sensitive areas or invest in storage and retention. SCNAT’s intervention adds scientific pressure while the federal plan remains under development.

For Swiss households, groundwater protection is a question of reliability at the tap and resilience across the landscape. The resource supplies most of the country’s drinking water, but it also helps keep rivers flowing when rainfall falls short. Its protection therefore affects public health, food production, industry and habitats at the same time.

Researchers expect both dry periods and heavy precipitation to become more frequent as the climate changes. Heavy rain does not automatically restore aquifers. Water may run off quickly, carry pollutants into waterways or fail to reach underground reserves, depending on soil, land cover and local drainage. Planning must account for both extremes.

The federal government’s proposed strategy will need to turn broad goals into monitoring, land use rules, infrastructure upgrades and clear decisions during shortages. SCNAT’s experts are also seeking greater public awareness and attention to gaps where action is still needed.

Switzerland has extensive technical capacity and a strong tradition of water management. The 2026 drought has given researchers and officials a practical test of how well those systems work under stress. Protecting groundwater will require regular measurement, careful withdrawals and the preservation of the places where water can enter the ground.