Review on the impact of water temperature changes due to geothermal activities on groundwater microbiology and associated geochemical processes

• Research unit: FOEN
• Project number: ExSt.2024.1708

Key words (German)

Wasser, Studien

Key words (English)

Water, Studies

Key words (French)

Eaux, Études

Key words (Italian)

Acque, Studi

Short description (English)

Swiss Parliament has adopted the motion 22.3702 Jauslin, which instructs the Federal Council and all federal offices concerned “to change the [legal] regulations in such a way as to enable the geothermal potential of the subsoil to be optimally exploited including the seasonal storage of heat”. More specifically, the motion expresses “the need to increase optimally the limit for groundwater temperature change through heat use or storage”, currently set to a maximum of 3 ºC at 100 m downward of the facility (Water Protection Ordinance). In doing so, the protection of groundwater used as drinking water as well as the protection of habitats dependent on groundwater must not be affected. With regard to the 3 °C rule, the Water Protection Ordinance does not distinguish between groundwater suitable to be used as drinking water and groundwater that is not suitable. However, primarily groundwater that is not suitable for drinking water use should be able to be used for heat storage, especially deep groundwater if its chemical composition makes drinking water use impossible.

Related documents

• Review on the impact of water temperature changes due to geothermal activities on groundwater microbiology and associated geochemical processes [PDF] 834 kB

Contractor (English)

Eawag, Dübendorf

Charged budget (English)

BAFU

Legal basis (English)

Art. 57 Abs. 1 RVOG | Art. 57 al. 1 LOGA. | Art. 57 cpv. 1 LOGA

Copyright (English)

Copyright, Bundesbehörden der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft | Droits d'auteur: autorités de la Confédération suisse | Diritti d'autore: autorità della Confederazione Svizzera | Dretgs d'autur: autoritads da la Confederaziun svizra | Copyright, Swiss federal authorities

Information (English)

BAFU, Abteilung Wasser, 3003 Bern