DrainWise: Reducing Pesticide Pollution from Agricultural Drainage
DrainWise tackles pesticide pollution from agricultural drainage — a largely overlooked but serious threat to Swiss surface waters. Using GIS, decision tools and decentralized treatment, we create actionable solutions to protect ecosystems and improve water quality. Our project targets two key areas: Water Protection & Biodiversity and Smart Water Management & Circularity.
What issue does your project address, and why do you want to tackle it?
20% of Swiss farmland is artificially drained, creating direct pathways for pesticide runoff into surface waters (Fabian et al., 2022). This leads to ecotoxicological threshold exceedances in small and mid-sized rivers (Doppler & Dietzel, 2024). Climate change will intensify these imissions. In April 2025, the Swiss Federal Court (2C_341/2023) sent a strong signal by recognizing drainage as a pollution pathway — despite existing technology yet no concrete reduction measures exist.
What is your project about and how does it make Switzerland water-wise?
We’re building a data-driven decision aid to reduce pesticide emissions from drainage fields. In a pilot on three sites, we’ll use existing data and tech to identify hotspots and test low-cost, decentralized solutions with passive monitoring. The resulting tool will guide scalable action, demonstrate feasibility, and drive engagement from authorities—strengthening Switzerland’s water resilience and biodiversity.
How do you measure your project's success?
We measure success by meeting ecotoxicological thresholds (GSchV, Anhang 2), demonstrating cost-effective treatment, and achieving broad outreach. Long-term impact is defined by uptake in pilot regions, follow-up funding, and integration into cantonal enforcement—laying the foundation for a national program to reduce pesticide pollution from drainage systems.
Who are the people behind the project and what is your secret to a great collaboration?
We are a multidisciplinary team of experts in hydrology, ecology, agriculture, environmental law, and engineering — united under the 4aqua interest group. Our secret? A shared mission to protect Swiss water, built on mutual trust, practical know-how, and solution-oriented thinking. We combine technical expertise with strong ties to public authorities, political actors, and practitioners — ensuring that our solutions are both grounded and actionable.
