Indicator water

Topic Core indicator DPSIR Main topic
Water Pressures

Drinking water use

Drinking water is used intensively in diverse ways. Domestically, it is consumed for drinking, cooking and for purposes of hygiene, cleaning and watering. It is also used by industry and commerce and by the public sector to supply fountains, for watering and to clean infrastructure.

As the water reservoir of Europe, Switzerland has abundant water resources. Because there are significant seasonal and geographical variations in the availability of these resources, the main challenge is to supply the water at the right place, at the right time and in the required quantity and quality.

Assessment of the state
good good
Assessment of the trend
positive positive
Losses 2020: 36.047863575876 Supply 2020: 6.89611303190672 Public use and fountains 2020: 14.1056857470819 Commerce and industry 2020: 71.7822674684836 Households and small businesses 2020: 165.506712765761 Losses 2019: 35.98 Supply 2019: 7.01 Public use and fountains 2019: 14.97 Commerce and industry 2019: 74.83 Households and small businesses 2019: 163.04 Losses 2018: 39.76 Supply 2018: 6.73 Public use and fountains 2018: 15.07 Commerce and industry 2018: 77.27 Households and small businesses 2018: 166.73 Losses 2017: 38.81 Supply 2017: 6.42 Public use and fountains 2017: 15.26 Commerce and industry 2017: 73.06 Households and small businesses 2017: 166 Losses 2016: 38.72 Supply 2016: 6.18 Public use and fountains 2016: 16.59 Commerce and industry 2016: 70.61 Households and small businesses 2016: 168.22 Losses 2015: 42.44 Supply 2015: 5.92 Public use and fountains 2015: 15.46 Commerce and industry 2015: 69.75 Households and small businesses 2015: 173.06 Losses 2014: 40.91 Supply 2014: 6.32 Public use and fountains 2014: 14.97 Commerce and industry 2014: 66.18 Households and small businesses 2014: 171.61 Losses 2013: 42.07 Supply 2013: 6.06 Public use and fountains 2013: 15.48 Commerce and industry 2013: 66.64 Households and small businesses 2013: 178.39 Losses 2012: 43.28 Supply 2012: 6.82 Public use and fountains 2012: 16.36 Commerce and industry 2012: 66.46 Households and small businesses 2012: 185.4 Losses 2011: 44.77 Supply 2011: 7.58 Public use and fountains 2011: 17.91 Commerce and industry 2011: 68.19 Households and small businesses 2011: 190.45 Losses 2010: 42.12 Supply 2010: 7.66 Public use and fountains 2010: 22.63 Commerce and industry 2010: 59.53 Households and small businesses 2010: 194.95 Losses 2009: 44.34 Supply 2009: 8.45 Public use and fountains 2009: 19.35 Commerce and industry 2009: 67.21 Households and small businesses 2009: 201.63 Losses 2008: 44.46 Supply 2008: 11.63 Public use and fountains 2008: 18.5 Commerce and industry 2008: 64.03 Households and small businesses 2008: 214.14 Losses 2007: 38.61 Supply 2007: 10.82 Public use and fountains 2007: 18.76 Commerce and industry 2007: 55.93 Households and small businesses 2007: 221.91 Losses 2006: 41.96 Supply 2006: 7.66 Public use and fountains 2006: 21.16 Commerce and industry 2006: 57.65 Households and small businesses 2006: 220.96 Losses 2005: 46.65 Supply 2005: 9.55 Public use and fountains 2005: 20.2 Commerce and industry 2005: 63.18 Households and small businesses 2005: 243.16 Losses 2004: 45.45 Supply 2004: 10.35 Public use and fountains 2004: 25.12 Commerce and industry 2004: 66.14 Households and small businesses 2004: 233.14 Losses 2003: 47.62 Supply 2003: 10.42 Public use and fountains 2003: 21.58 Commerce and industry 2003: 58.78 Households and small businesses 2003: 265.27 Losses 2002: 46.45 Supply 2002: 10.49 Public use and fountains 2002: 28.84 Commerce and industry 2002: 68.92 Households and small businesses 2002: 246.1 Losses 2001: 46.06 Supply 2001: 8.31 Public use and fountains 2001: 21.14 Commerce and industry 2001: 65.7 Households and small businesses 2001: 245.81 Losses 2000: 54.76 Supply 2000: 12.93 Public use and fountains 2000: 26.24 Commerce and industry 2000: 65.41 Households and small businesses 2000: 251 Losses 1999: 56.75 Supply 1999: 7.65 Public use and fountains 1999: 26.54 Commerce and industry 1999: 68.19 Households and small businesses 1999: 245.21 Losses 1998: 52.53 Supply 1998: 7.65 Public use and fountains 1998: 25.92 Commerce and industry 1998: 71.22 Households and small businesses 1998: 250.05 Losses 1997: 52.89 Supply 1997: 9.11 Public use and fountains 1997: 26.41 Commerce and industry 1997: 68.8 Households and small businesses 1997: 250.69 Losses 1996: 57.3 Supply 1996: 8.74 Public use and fountains 1996: 29.6 Commerce and industry 1996: 72.74 Households and small businesses 1996: 238.69 Losses 1995: 57.49 Supply 1995: 8.69 Public use and fountains 1995: 27.58 Commerce and industry 1995: 84.38 Households and small businesses 1995: 236.88 Losses 1994: 55.54 Supply 1994: 7.85 Public use and fountains 1994: 30.68 Commerce and industry 1994: 84.08 Households and small businesses 1994: 247 Losses 1993: 55.99 Supply 1993: 8.85 Public use and fountains 1993: 29.17 Commerce and industry 1993: 79.57 Households and small businesses 1993: 242.93 Losses 1992: 66.71 Supply 1992: 11.5 Public use and fountains 1992: 37.6 Commerce and industry 1992: 82.22 Households and small businesses 1992: 277.62 Losses 1991: 68.99 Supply 1991: 8.81 Public use and fountains 1991: 38.32 Commerce and industry 1991: 100.3 Households and small businesses 1991: 262.17 Losses 1990: 61.04 Supply 1990: 8.16 Public use and fountains 1990: 41.48 Commerce and industry 1990: 100.28 Households and small businesses 1990: 259.01 Losses 1989: 62.03 Supply 1989: 9.81 Public use and fountains 1989: 42.28 Commerce and industry 1989: 84.2 Households and small businesses 1989: 280.3 Losses 1988: 65.64 Supply 1988: 10.31 Public use and fountains 1988: 39.98 Commerce and industry 1988: 95.73 Households and small businesses 1988: 263.05 Losses 1987: 69.76 Supply 1987: 9.68 Public use and fountains 1987: 38.05 Commerce and industry 1987: 91.58 Households and small businesses 1987: 271.98 Losses 1986: 69.38 Supply 1986: 9.16 Public use and fountains 1986: 31.04 Commerce and industry 1986: 97.69 Households and small businesses 1986: 265.64 Losses 1985: 81.16 Supply 1985: 11.03 Public use and fountains 1985: 34.69 Commerce and industry 1985: 96.62 Households and small businesses 1985: 261.22 Losses 1984: 76.3 Supply 1984: 9.51 Public use and fountains 1984: 35.65 Commerce and industry 1984: 104.35 Households and small businesses 1984: 265.23 Losses 1983: 83.2 Supply 1983: 11.25 Public use and fountains 1983: 33.37 Commerce and industry 1983: 111.93 Households and small businesses 1983: 265.8 Losses 1982: 84.29 Supply 1982: 11.33 Public use and fountains 1982: 35.52 Commerce and industry 1982: 111.18 Households and small businesses 1982: 264.84 Losses 1981: 90.88 Supply 1981: 12.85 Public use and fountains 1981: 32.37 Commerce and industry 1981: 115.9 Households and small businesses 1981: 266.37 Losses 1980: 82.38 Supply 1980: 14.14 Public use and fountains 1980: 32.13 Commerce and industry 1980: 118.8 Households and small businesses 1980: 226.39 Losses 1979: 86.4 Supply 1979: 17.69 Public use and fountains 1979: 35.99 Commerce and industry 1979: 114.48 Households and small businesses 1979: 263.21 Losses 1978: 78.59 Supply 1978: 16.04 Public use and fountains 1978: 34.61 Commerce and industry 1978: 104.97 Households and small businesses 1978: 263.98 Losses 1977: 83.17 Supply 1977: 15.36 Public use and fountains 1977: 32.38 Commerce and industry 1977: 105.43 Households and small businesses 1977: 264.27

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Swiss Society of the Gas and Water Industry
Comment

Drinking water use in Switzerland has decreased since the end of the 1970s despite a rising population. In 1977 it was 500 litres per head per day but the figure is now about 300. Given the average fall in consumption of about 25% from the year 2000 to the present, the trend in Swiss water use can be described as positive.

In terms of households, this trend is mainly attributable to the constant improvement in the water-efficiency of domestic appliances, changes in habits (prepared foodstuffs, disposable cleaning materials etc.) and probably also greater awareness among the population. In industry, this reduction is the result of significantly improved efficiency in the use of water, but also the relocation of some production sites, resulting in the transfer abroad of their water use (offshoring).  This consumption reappears in the form of “virtual water” or “water footprint” in imports.

The indicator shown here only represents the trend in drinking water use in Switzerland. As is clear from the “Water footprint” indicator, Swiss use of water abroad, namely the water quantity used to produce the agricultural and industrial products we import, keeps increasing. The consequence of this trend is to increase the pressure on water resources in the exporting countries where water is sometimes very scarce.

At national level, available drinking water resources largely exceed average consumption in Switzerland, which is why the indicator status is evaluated as positive. In exceptional situations (e.g. longer periods of drought) however, local or regional shortages may occur. This necessitates ensuring good regional water distribution planning, for example by providing a second connection to protect against damage or drought. These measures are particularly important because these situations could become more frequent and serious as climate change progresses.

International comparison

It is difficult to obtain an international comparison for this indicator. Although the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) issues some data on water use, the definitions and methods of estimation used can vary widely from country to country.

Method

Drinking water consumption by households, commerce and industry is recorded by the Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association (SVGW). The basic data currently derive from around 674 public water supplies; after collection they are extrapolated to the whole of Switzerland.

Figures on self-supply of households, commerce, industry and agriculture are not recorded regularly and are not considered in this indicator. Most recently, in 2008, a study was carried out by the SVGW to obtain a detailed record of self-supply in industry by sector and water origin for the period 1970–2006. A study by the consultants Hunzer-Betatech (Bereinigung und Dokumentation Berichterstattung Eurostat/OECD, May 2015), based partly on the ReKeWaNu project, also provided data on self-supply. Regular collection of these data is not planned at this time.

Basis for assessment of the trend
Targeted trend Initial value Final value Variation in % Observed trend Assessment
Decrease Average 2000-2002 Average 2018-2020 -25.24% Decrease positive
 
Last updated on: 26.08.2022

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