Eawag Study on Pesticide Levels

Pesticides that enter groundwater and eventually drinking water can pose risks to both human health and the environment. Groundwater in karst regions is particularly vulnerable to contamination because the protective soil layer is often very thin. A study using high-frequency sampling shows that groundwater from karst springs in the Jura can become heavily contaminated, especially after rainfall. Up to six percent of drinking water samples from the Swiss Jura could exceed the regulatory limit.