Environment Federal Council puts together package to protect drinking water and bodies of water
The Federal Council wants to improve the protection of Swiss bodies of water and drinking water. Among other things, the catchment area around water catchments is to be better protected and wastewater treatment plants renovated.
26.11.2025, 15:15
26.11.2025, 17:08
SDA
On Wednesday, it opened the consultation on a revision of the Water Protection Act and the Water Protection Ordinance. The aim is to fulfill several of Parliament's demands. Interested parties have until March 12, 2026 to submit their comments.
Among other things, the Federal Council wants to oblige the cantons to designate the inflow areas of groundwater wells by 2050. The cantons and water suppliers will then be able to take measures to protect drinking water in these areas.
There is also the expansion of wastewater treatment plants. There are around 700 across the country, and in future they should discharge fewer nitrogen compounds and organic trace substances into the water. In future, less climate-damaging nitrous oxide is to be released into the atmosphere from sewage treatment plants.
The Federal Council also wants to improve protection against pesticides. The annex to the Water Protection Ordinance sets ecotoxicologically based limit values for pesticides that are particularly problematic for plants and animals. Seven more active substances are to be added to the 19 currently listed.
According to the Federal Council, these are active substances that have been detected in several bodies of water in recent years in concentrations at which the protection of plants and animals is no longer guaranteed.
