Water quality thoroughly tested – certain thresholds exceeded

Although the drinking water at ETH Zurich is tested regularly for Legionella bacteria and other pathogens in accordance with legal requirements, measuring the levels of heavy metals is not part of the ongoing measures for monitoring water quality. Over the last few days, ETH Zurich has now conducted heavy metal tests in all buildings constructed in 1980 or earlier. The results show that the water quality in nearly all of the buildings is impeccable. In buildings HPF, HPM, HPP and HPT, however, the legal thresholds for the heavy metals lead and nickel were exceeded – in some cases significantly – in some of the samples. 

ETH occupational physician Leonhard Sigel has assessed that there is no appreciable health risk for adults who have been consuming the water regularly. For pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of 6, an individual risk assessment is recommended as part of an occupational health consultation. This will be treated as fully confidential and ETH Zurich will bear the costs.

As a precautionary measure, water in the buildings concerned should not be drunk until the cause of the elevated heavy metal contamination has been found and solutions have been implemented. Notices have been put up in the buildings to inform staff and students of the situation.

Water dispensers in affected buildings

It is safe for adults to use the water for washing hands, so the taps in the toilets of the affected buildings will remain in use. As a safety precaution, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of 6 should not use the water for personal hygiene measures such as brushing teeth. The taps in the break rooms are currently out of use. As a temporary solution,  Facility Services has set up water dispensers in front of the toilets and in the break rooms in order to ensure access to safe drinking water at all times. Employees in the affected buildings have been notified directly. An online information event is being organised for them, which ETH occupational physician Leonhard Sigel will be attending to answer any questions. In addition, the most important questions and answers will be updated on an ongoing basis on .

“The health of our members is extremely important to us, and we are aware that there may be questions and concerns about the water contamination detected in some of the buildings. We are making every effort to identify the cause and resolve the problem as quickly as possible,” says Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure.