At this year’s Eawag Info Day, dedicated to the theme “Groundwater – utilising and protecting the resource drinking water”, ReCLEAN was represented by Lenny Winkel, professor at Eawag and ETH Zurich and one of the PIs of the project. ReCLEAN is an initiative of the ETH Domain that addresses one of Switzerland’s most pressing environmental challenges: reactive nitrogen pollution. ReCLEAN combines expertise from EPFL, ETH Zürich, PSI, WSL, and Eawag to develop a holistic, multi-compartment model of the nitrogen cycle, linking atmosphere, agricultural systems, and groundwater.

Nitrate is one of the problematic reactive nitrogen species as it can contaminate groundwater. With groundwater providing 80 percent of the country’s drinking water, understanding and mitigating nitrate contamination is critical for both public health and ecosystem resilience. Using machine learning and geospatial modelling, Prof. Winkel presented the research from the Eawag ReCLEAN team on identifying nitrate hotspots, and how this can help in assessing groundwater vulnerability.

By bridging cutting-edge science with practical applications, ReCLEAN aims to deliver tools for evidence-based policymaking. Its insights will guide strategies that protect drinking water resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and balance the complex trade-offs of Switzerland’s climate and energy transition.

More information about the Eawag Info Day 2025: https://www.eawag.ch/en/teaching/continuing-education-at-eawag/info-day/