Water Management Switzerland 2025

Water is a staple food, basic for hygiene and public health, and an important production factor. Intact water courses are vital ecosystems for biodiversity. Water use for hydro power generation and protection against flooding show the economic significance of water also in Switzerland.

Water Management as a generic term for all activities concerning water use, water protection and flood protection directly influences our daily life in many aspects. Hence, developing water management strategies for the future is a worthwhile topic.

Supported by the Federal Office for the Environment and the BaslerFonds, we elaborated a study on the challenges and strategies for the Swiss water management till the year 2025.

Based on an analysis of the most important mega trends (such as climate change, economic structure, societal development, spatial development, energy supply, pollutants and institutional setting), we draw a plausible picture of the year 2025, including its implications on water management.

Appraising these expected trends on external factors together with guidelines of sustainable development derived from the Swiss Constitution, we identified future challenges and management strategies for the Swiss water management. In developing these strategy options, we also evaluated existing models in France, England/Wales and in United States/Washington State. We assessed the strategy options in terms of effectiveness, implications on stakeholders and required implementation effort. We finally elaborated on the proposed core elements of a future Swiss water management.

The final report shall enrich the discussion among stakeholders in Switzerland on its future water management.