Water Division

The Water Division is responsible for the protection of surface water, groundwater and drinking water in accordance with the Water Protection Act. It represents Switzerland in international boundary water and fisheries commissions.

Responsibilities:

• Groundwater and drinking water protection
• Drainage of the built environment and traffic areas
• Wastewater treatment
• Water quality assessment
• Water body protection and agriculture (structural and substance-based water protection; nitrate, phosphate, plant protection products)
• Revitalization and clearance of the aquatic environment
• Hydropower rehabilitation (fish migration, hydropeaking, bed load, residual flows)
• Bed load rehabilitation
• Protection and promotion of aquatic biodiversity under the Federal Fisheries Act
• Conservation of natural biodiversity and the population of native fish, crustaceans and fish food animals

The division is responsible for the topics:

Topic Water

Hydrological data and forecasts

Management:

Patrice Eschmann
Position: head of divison

Daya Moser
Funktion: deputy head of division / head of staff unit

Michael Schärer
Position : head of section Groundwater protection

Fabian Soltermann
Position: head of section Urban water management 

Christian Leu
Position : head of section waterquality

Susanne Haertel-Borer
Position : head of section revitalisation and fisheries

Monika Schaffner
Position : head of section (co-leader) hydropower rehabilitation

Lucie Lundsgaard-Hansen
Position : head of section (co-leader) hydropower rehabilitation

Last modification 01.04.2025