Switzerland's tap water is considered one of the cleanest in the world. Many cities and communities get their water from clear mountain springs and other natural sources that are clean enough to drink straight from the source.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- Source of Switzerland’s tap water
- How tap water is treated in Switzerland
- Top cities with the cleanest tap water in Switzerland
Is Switzerland Tap Water Safe To Drink?
Yes, Swiss tap water is safe to drink. In fact, in most areas, the local tap water doesn’t need any treatment at all to be safe for consumption.
More than 2,500 water suppliers work across Switzerland to supply water to households. They are regionally and communally organized to address the water needs of the Swiss people. While tap water quality changes across regions, all existing research shows that the entirety of the Swiss population has access to clean drinking water via taps.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Swiss tap water is free of contaminants. Like in some other parts of the world, the risks associated with pesticide contamination through agricultural runoff, nitrates, trace metals, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics are increasing in Switzerland.
The country has taken several steps to improve water quality over the last 50 years such as banning laundry detergents containing phosphates and banning leaded fuel. Aside from requiring the water suppliers to deliver annual water quality reports and address water quality issues as they arise, the government set up groundwater monitoring sites across the country to collect data and detect problematic substances.
However, Swiss officials recently suggested more severe measures should be taken in order to protect the country’s clean water supplies.
The biggest tap water contamination risk is from pesticide runoff. At least one in five drinking water sources is now affected by increased pesticide levels. Pesticides are most prevalent in drinking water in intensively farmed areas with high precipitation rates. The presence of forever plastics (PFAS) is another rising concern.
Research shows that:
- 15% of Swiss water bodies exceed the prescribed maximum allowance of 25 milligrams of nitrates per liter of water. Water sources close to farming areas are affected disproportionately by nitrates.
- 1-2% of monitored water bodies contain pesticides above the limit value of 0.1 micrograms per liter. In 30% of water sources, pesticide degradation products occur over 0.1 micrograms per liter, significantly impairing the groundwater quality.
- At nearly 3% of water sites, volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHH) exceed the set limits.
- 15% of the groundwater monitoring sites throughout Switzerland contain pharmaceuticals.
- There are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at almost half of the NAQUA monitoring sites.
We should note that Switzerland's tap water remains one of the cleanest in the world despite the figures above.
If you’re worried about the water quality of your area, you can check your council's website or trinkwasser.ch for more information.
Is the Water Hard or Soft?
The hardness of the tap water in Switzerland depends on which region you’re getting your tap water from.
Water hardness depends on the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water.
You’re more likely to find hard water in areas of Switzerland where drinking water comes from springs and groundwater that move through limestone, chalk, or gypsum.
Here’s the water hardness and softness rating for Switzerland’s five most populous cities:
- Zurich: medium
- Geneva: soft
- Basel: medium
- Lausanne: soft
- Bern: hard
Top 3 Switzerland Cities With the Cleanest Water
Narrowing down the cities with the cleanest water in Switzerland is not easy since water throughout the country is exceptionally clean. However, Winterthur, Bern, and Lucerne all have exceptional water.
Winterthur
Winterthur, the largest city in Switzerland, exclusively uses untreated groundwater as its main water source. Winterthur tests 700 water samples annually to ensure their tap water meets legal requirements.
Winterthur’s water monitoring system is digital and largely automated, which allows continual assurance of quality water for its citizens.
The water is quite hard at 28 French degrees (280 ppm), and as a result, water softeners are becoming more popular in the city.
Bern
Bern is also known as the City of Fountains. Not only do the residents have access to clean water, but over 100 public fountains fed from underground streams and wells provide free and clean water to everyone who strolls around the town.
Regular testing is critical to Bern’s clean water access. Water samples from reservoirs and pumping stations are tested twice a week to ensure water quality.
Bern’s groundwater is treated with chlorine and UV treatment before it makes its way to the city’s taps and fountains.
Bern’s wastewater treatment plant is one of the most technologically advanced ones in Europe, ensuring wastewater doesn’t contaminate the water supply.
Lucerne
Like Bern, Lucerne boasts 200 public fountains that have been supplying the city with spring water since the Middle Ages.
About 50% of Lucern’s water comes from Lake Lucerne and is filtered to ensure its cleanliness.
Another near-half of their water comes from the spring water works at Sonnenberg in Kriens, which requires no additional filtration before entering Lucerne homes. All other water comes from groundwater and undergoes UV disinfection before traveling to homes.
Energy Water Lucerne (EWL) contracts with the city to ensure that the water that reaches Lucerne homes is of the best quality.
If you’re visiting or moving to a different city, use your postcode to check the water quality reports in your area.
Who Regulates Water in Switzerland?
While the Swiss government creates the legal framework for water conservation, protection, and quality standards, specific water policies and laws are up to cantons and local authorities in each community.
This approach means that water governance occurs based on political boundaries rather than water basin boundaries, often causing conflict between areas that share water sources like rivers or lakes.
Several government departments work together to regulate water issues in Switzerland.
The Federal Department of Home Affairs (EDI) has outlined water treatment and quality regulations throughout the country. The Federal Office for Agriculture provides research and consultation on reducing the risks of pesticides.
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) and Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) check Switzerland’s water quality based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Protocol on Water and Health.
Where Switzerland Gets Its Water From
Switzerland’s water comes from springs, groundwater, and lakes.
Springs
Switzerland gets 40% of its drinking water from springs, much of which comes from the Alps and the Jura.
As the water flows through gravel and stone and seeps through different layers of the soil and subsoil, it goes through a natural purification process and picks up minerals like magnesium and calcium carbonate.
Groundwater
Switzerland gets another 40% of drinking water (50 billion cubic meters) from groundwater reserves. Most groundwater comes from the Central Plateau. As the groundwater seeps through various soil layers, it acquires various minerals.
Lakes
The remaining 20% of Swiss water comes from lakes. Lake water requires more treatment as lakes are often exposed to man-made contaminants.
How Tap Water Is Treated in Switzerland
The majority of the tap water in Switzerland is pure enough to be left untreated or simply treated with UV light. Here’s a breakdown of the treatment types currently in use:
- Untreated: 41%
- Only UV disinfection: 22%
- Multi-stage treatment without UV: 20%
- Other one-step treatments: 9%
- A combination of UV and other treatments: 8%
Research and developments from Eawag have contributed greatly to improving water quality. Some developments in use today include membrane bioreactors, biofilm reactors, and fluidized bed processes.
Is Drinking Bottled Water the Safest Option in Switzerland?
While bottled water is available in Switzerland, most people consider tap water to be a superior choice as it’s very clean.
The safety of bottled water is also a question in itself: a study of globally sourced bottled water showed that 93% had more microplastic contamination than tap water. Some of these microplastics were a result of the bottled water packaging process. Current studies show that microplastics may be the cause of various human health problems.
Authorities may occasionally issue a warning that water supplies may have been contaminated. In those cases, drinking bottled water is the safer option.
Are Water Filters Necessary in Switzerland?
If you’re drinking water from a tap in Switzerland, there’s no need for a water filter to remove contaminants.
Strict regulations regarding water quality ensure that tap water is clean enough to need no filtration or only minimal filtration. However, some citizens still use water filters for peace of mind.
If you’re in a Swiss city that adds chlorine to its water, like Zurich, you may want to use a water filter to remove the taste of chlorine.
However, people who live in areas with hard water often use a water softener to make the water taste better, be more gentle for hair and skin, and less likely to leave residue on dishes.
If you’re hiking in Switzerland, use a water filter for stream water because there’s always the chance for waterborne pathogens. You may even see signs warning “Kein Trinkwasser” along your route to warn you not to drink the water.
Conclusion
The tap water in Switzerland is safe to drink. Compared to the rest of the world, the water in most cities is exceptionally clean, and bottled water is unnecessary except in emergency situations.
For the most part, there’s no need to use extra water filters in homes except for personal reasons. However, some people use water softeners in areas where the water is harder.
