Switzerland Offering $58,000 For Ideas To Remove Old Bombs From Lakes

Switzerland is facing a significant environmental challenge with unspent military munitions lying at the bottom of its lakes, particularly Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and Lake Lucerne. These munitions, dumped between 1918 and 1964, pose a potential threat to the delicate ecosystems of these lakes. To address this, Switzerland has launched a competition offering a prize of 50,000 Swiss francs (approximately $58,000) for innovative proposals to safely remove these munitions. The competition aims to find environmentally friendly solutions that do not exacerbate the problem. Although there is no immediate crisis, as regular monitoring shows no current negative effects, the country is preparing for a worst-case scenario where pollutants might leak from the munitions.

The challenge of safely extracting these munitions is complex. Past assessments have indicated that removing the munitions could disturb the lake sediments, posing high risks to the ecosystems. The munitions, some of which still have their fuses, could potentially explode or release toxic substances like TNT into the water and sediments. Experts, such as Mike Sainsbury from Zetica, suggest that if the munitions are not immediately hazardous, it might be safer to leave them undisturbed. However, the Swiss government is keen on exploring potential solutions, as concerns about environmental contamination grow. The competition invites both academic and industrial proposals, with the aim of developing a foundation for future research and potential implementation

Details for entering ideas:
https://www.ar.admin.ch/en/nsb...