Water scarcity and heat: Switzerland needs federal planning for water resources

Switzerland, known for its abundant water resources, is facing growing challenges in ensuring sufficient supply due to climate change, leading to increased scarcity and conflicts over water usage. Water suppliers are now urging the federal government to establish a comprehensive legal framework for water management.

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We need a better and binding legal framework for water use.

Anton Pieren, manager of Wasserverbund Kiesental AG, has devised a nighttime-focused plan to distribute water among large consumers in his eleven municipalities during the extreme drought. This involves allocating specific hours for different communities, farmers, and residents to water their needs, effectively smoothing consumption to ensure everyone has access.

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This way, we can smooth consumption so that there is enough water for everyone. And that has worked well so far.

The Swiss Association of Gas, Heat, and Water Suppliers (SVGW) presented a plan to the federal government in May, advocating for a paradigm shift. They propose a new national "Water Management Law" to standardize data collection and reporting on water resources, moving regulatory control from the cantons to the federal level. This initiative stems from the increasing difficulty in providing adequate water for drinking, irrigation, cooling, and firefighting amidst heatwaves, droughts, and contamination.

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And the more difficult this becomes, the better we have to plan.