Hidden Dangers Beneath Switzerland’s Pristine Alpine Waters
Beneath the serene and picturesque surfaces of Switzerland’s lakes Lucerne, Thun, and Neuchatel, an unsettling secret lies dormant. For decades, the Swiss military used these pristine waters as dumping grounds for old munitions, believing it was a safe method of disposal. However, the vast quantities of explosives lurking beneath the surface have now become a cause for concern, prompting the Swiss government to seek innovative solutions for their removal.
Lake Lucerne alone is estimated to contain 3,300 tonnes of munitions, while Lake Neuchatel holds even more, with 4,500 tonnes. Some of these munitions lie as deep as 220 meters, but in Lake Neuchatel, others are just six or seven meters below the surface. The lake was used by the Swiss Air Force for bombing practice until 2021.
To address the issue, the Swiss Defense Department is offering a 50,000-franc ($58,000) prize for the best idea to safely and environmentally retrieve these munitions. The three best proposals will share the prize, though the overall cost of the salvage operation is expected to run into billions.
Double danger: Explosion and contamination risks
The presence of these munitions has been known for decades, but concerns over their safety have grown in recent years. Retired Swiss geologist Marcos Buser, who advised the government on the matter, warned over ten years ago about the dangers posed by the dumps. He identified two main risks: the potential for explosion and the contamination of water and soil.
Despite being submerged, many of the munitions still have their fuses intact, increasing the risk of an underwater explosion. Additionally, there is a significant chance that toxic substances like TNT could leach into the lake water and surrounding sediment, posing environmental hazards.
The Swiss government acknowledges the challenges of safely recovering the munitions. Factors such as poor visibility, the presence of magnetic iron, and the varying weights of individual ammunition pieces make the task daunting. A 2005 assessment of possible recovery techniques found that all proposed solutions carried severe risks to the lakes’ sensitive ecosystems.
A legacy of military negligence
This is not the first time Switzerland’s military has faced scrutiny over its handling of munitions. In 1947, the alpine village of Mitholz suffered a massive explosion when 3,000 tonnes of army-stored ammunition detonated, killing nine people and destroying the village. The blast was so powerful that it was heard 160 kilometers away in Zurich.
Three years ago, the military revealed that 3,500 tonnes of unexploded ammunition still remained buried in the mountain overlooking Mitholz, prompting a long-term evacuation of residents while a clean-up operation takes place.
Switzerland’s Cold War defense strategy also involved mining its bridges and tunnels to deter invasion, leading to quick demining efforts in some cases when modern vehicles risked triggering explosions. In 2001, a fire in the Gotthard Tunnel, a key European transport route, raised concerns due to the proximity of stored explosives.
The search for a solution
The task of removing munitions from Switzerland’s lakes is expected to be long and complex. But before the work can begin, a workable plan must be developed. Some critics argue that the military should have considered this challenge when they first began dumping munitions. For decades, however, geologists advised the military that the practice was safe.
Now, the Swiss Defence Department is calling on the public to submit ideas for retrieving the munitions. Submissions will be accepted until February next year and will be judged anonymously by a panel of experts. The three winners will be announced in April.
While the government has stated that it does not plan to implement the winning ideas immediately, they could serve as the basis for further research or development of new projects. Buser suggests that Switzerland could benefit from consulting with countries like the UK, Norway, or Denmark, which have experience dealing with wartime wrecks containing unexploded weapons.
As for whether he will contribute any ideas himself, Buser says, “No, I’m too old now…but if they need any advice I will be pleased to give it.”
The hunt is on for innovative solutions to safely and effectively remove these underwater threats, and the world will be watching as Switzerland tackles this complex challenge.