Gasoline residue detected in Swiss groundwater

Traces of the gasoline component ETBE have been detected in the groundwater of the Swiss municipalities of Würenlos, Wettingen, Neuenhof, and Baden. The contamination was identified following customer complaints regarding an unusual odor in the drinking water in late June 2026.

Investigations by the Office for Consumer Protection (AVS) confirmed the presence of ETBE. The likely cause is a damage event that occurred on September 3, 2025, at the Würenlos motorway service area, where gasoline seeped into the soil.

Despite the presence of the substance, concentrations remain significantly below the maximum limits for drinking water. Consequently, no restrictions on water usage have been deemed necessary. Further hydrogeological testing was conducted in August 2026 to map the extent of the contamination across different groundwater layers.