CH-GNet: CH-GNet

Groundwater under pressure

Groundwater is a valuable resource that must be protected, since in Switzerland ~80% of drinking water is obtained from groundwater (incl. spring water). Particularly powerful groundwater deposits are often located along large river courses, which often represent heavily populated areas of Switzerland. Contamination from various sources, anthropogenic influences on the hydrogeological system, and climate change have a major impact on groundwater quality and quantity. In order to grasp and better understand hydrogeological issues and challenges under the pressure of new developments and to work on missing basics, there is a great need for a continuous competence building, technical support and a smooth Switzerland-wide exchange between research and practice. To make a significant contribution to this, the CH-GNet network was created.

Advisory board and scientific core team

The CH-GNet Advisory board committee consists of:

FOEN - Flavio Malaguerra
CHYN- Daniel Hunkeler
SVGW -Rolf Meier
Eawag - Mario Schirmer and Christian Stamm
SGH/Canton Baselland - Adrian Auckenthaler
CH-GNet - Christian Moeck
University of Bern/CHy - Bettina Schaefli

The scientific core team consists of:

Eawag - Mario Schirmer, Joaquin Jimenez-Martinez and Christian Moeck
ISSKA - Pierre Yves Jeannin
CHYN - Philip Brunner and Daniel Hunkeler
Uni. Basel - Oliver Schilling
ETHZ - Joaquin Jimenez-Martinez

Goals

Main goal

The primary aim of CH-GNet is to publicise existing research in the field of groundwater and related disciplines and to create a forum for exchange, information and networking. We see ourselves as a link between practice-orientated and basic research.

Further goals

To process information and findings from science and make them available to practice. Achieve strong practice-oriented research by investigating groundwater-related problems and developing principles for practice.
Organize workshops, webinars, and continuing education.
Promote continuous skill building and a smooth exchange of information.
Contact point for concerns of the practice to the research.

Through the work of the CH-GNet, the current but also future research central questions are to be made "explicit". Information, developed tools and findings from science are processed and made available to practice. This represents a contribution of research and CH-GNet to society. Purely scientific facts are developed for the respective main topics. The support of the practice are central here. In the long run, the visibility of groundwater research and the exchange with practice in Switzerland shall be increased.

New political mandates require the development of new technical principles for the implementation of water protection legislation by the cantons and specialist offices in order to achieve an impact in practice. The Groundwater Protection Platform is developing these principles. The distinction between the Swiss Groundwater Network and the Groundwater Protection Platform is shown in the following diagram.

CH- Hydrogeology: Quo vadis...?

We invite all members of the Swiss hydrogeology community to take part in this CH- Hydrogeology: Quo vadis...? questionnaire by 28.02.2025.

Link

We would like to know your opinion on the state of groundwater and on possible strategies for better water management and groundwater protection.

The objectives of the survey are to

Discuss the current state of groundwater in the context of global megatrends (e.g. climate change, land use changes, population growth, digitalization, etc.),
Identify hydrogeological challenges,
Examine whether there are different perspectives and opinions in the various fields of activity (research, implementation, groundwater-related organizations, water suppliers and consultancies, etc.).

Your answers will help to assess the challenges and determine where common ground exists in an international context, and to identify opportunities for synergies. By taking part, you will be helping to tackle the main societal and environmental challenges linked to groundwater.

The questionnaire is the result of a workshop organized by the Swiss Groundwater Network (CH-GNet) and the Swiss Hydrogeological Society (SGH).

Special issue "Geothermal Energy and Groundwater"

The special issue "Geothermal energy and groundwater" of the journal Grundwasser is planned for early 2025. The transformation of the energy sector, in particular the provision of heat, is crucial to achieving climate targets. Near-surface and deep geothermal energy can make a significant contribution here. The thermal use of groundwater for cooling and heating in shallow aquifers and deep reservoirs offers great potential for decarbonizing the building sector via district and local heating networks or in individual buildings. Geothermal probes and collectors significantly expand the utilization potential even further, bring geothermal energy to the surface and generally benefit in their efficiency from the influence of groundwater flow. The possibility of thermal storage underground via aquifer storage systems offers additional potential for the heat transition in order to cover peak loads with renewable energy and to make the heat supply more flexible.

Submission of manuscripts by the end of June 2024
- Review and revision of manuscripts by mid-November 2024
- Publication of the special issue in March 2025 (Volume 30, Issue 1)