A worrying contamination of groundwater with chemicals from firefighting foams is forcing authorities in Alsace to take drastic measures. In eleven municipalities in the Haut-Rhin department bordering EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse, a drinking water ban has been in effect since May 5 for particularly vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant women, and the seriously ill. The contamination involves so-called PFAS, persistent chemicals considered potentially carcinogenic, which now require costly remediation measures.
The contamination is due to the use of PFAS-containing extinguishing agents during firefighting exercises at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse. This practice was previously legal, as only a few of these substances are regulated. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are extremely stable and persistent chemicals used in numerous industrial processes and consumer products such as Teflon pans, food packaging, and textiles. Their persistence in the environment and the potential health risks, including cancer and disruption of the endocrine and immune systems, have long been known.
Groundwater pollution exceeds limit values many times over
According to Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), measurements have shown that PFAS concentrations in groundwater exceed the permissible limits for drinking water by up to four times. While no drinking water ban has been imposed in the directly neighboring city of Basel, as the city draws its drinking water primarily from the less polluted Rhine, the effects in Alsace are severe.
The authorities of the Haut-Rhin department are responding by purchasing water filters and water treatment systems for the affected region as quickly as possible. The cost of these measures is estimated at around €20 million. Due to the lack of external financing options, an increase in water prices in the affected municipalities is inevitable starting in 2026.
Costs of remediation and the question of who is responsible
The case in Alsace highlights a larger problem. Switzerland, too, faces expensive remediation projects in PFAS-contaminated areas in the coming years. The federal and cantonal governments are currently attempting to gain an overview of the extent of soil, water, and food contamination. So far, the level of contamination in Switzerland is largely unknown.
Given the high costs of remediation, the Swiss federal government is considering expanding the polluter-pays principle. This could potentially require manufacturers and importers of PFAS to pay for the remediation of environmental damage. However, this is likely to meet with considerable resistance from the affected industries. The European Union is currently discussing a far-reaching ban on PFAS, which Switzerland would likely adopt. This could severely restrict the use of these problematic substances in the future.
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