Bern, 5 October 2026 · Message and classification
The Swiss water supply is almost entirely in public hands. This is the result of a report which the Federal Council held good on 2 October.
The message touches a basic question of everyday life: who decides on the resource that should be available when opening the tap? An answer to this creates orientation.
Distinguishing drinking water supply and mineral water
The survey used 2898 public water supply facilities. Only individual supplies are not fully owned by public authorities. In the case of mineral water producers, however, the ownership structure is partially not publicly known. [2] The two areas should therefore be carefully kept apart in the debate.
Property alone protects no source
According to the Federal Office for the Environment, more than 80 percent of Swiss drinking water originates from groundwater deposits.
Dryness is a further task: less precipitation reduces the re-formation of groundwater; at the same time, additional withdrawals can increase the pressure.
Classification: What questions on the spot count
From the point of view of the editorial board, the new report is therefore primarily an answer to the issue of ownership, and its conclusion should not be read as a comprehensive design for all tasks of water supply.
For residents it is worth looking at specific responsibilities: Who informs about water quality? How ... [truncated for model]