Bern, August 19, 2024, The Europe Today: Beneath the serene and picturesque waters of Switzerland’s famed lakes Lucerne, Thun, and Neuchatel, a hidden and potentially dangerous legacy lies undisturbed. For years, the Swiss military used these lakes as dumping grounds for old munitions, under the belief that it was a safe method of disposal.
In Lake Lucerne alone, an estimated 3,300 tonnes of munitions rest at the bottom, while Lake Neuchatel holds around 4,500 tonnes. The Swiss Air Force continued using Lake Neuchatel for bombing practice until as recently as 2021. The munitions, some of which are buried at depths of 150 to 220 meters, pose significant risks. In Lake Neuchatel, some are just six or seven meters below the surface.
The Swiss defence department has now launched a competition, offering 50,000 Swiss francs (£45,000) in prize money for the best ideas to safely retrieve the munitions from these lakes. The prize will be shared among the top three proposals, but the overall salvage operation is expected to cost billions.
Environmental and Safety Risks
The issue of munitions in Swiss lakes has been known for decades, but recent concerns have brought it back into focus. Retired Swiss geologist Marcos Buser, who has advised the government on this issue, published a research paper ten years ago highlighting the potential dangers of these underwater dumps.
Buser warned of two primary risks. First, despite being underwater, the munitions still pose a risk of explosion. In many cases, the army failed to remove the fuses before dumping them. Secondly, there is a significant risk of water and soil contamination. The presence of highly toxic TNT in the munitions could potentially pollute the lake water and surrounding sediments.
The Swiss government has acknowledged the challenges of recovering the munitions in an environmentally safe manner. Factors such as poor underwater visibility, the presence of magnetic iron, and the varying weights of individual ammunition pieces make the task extremely difficult.
A 2005 assessment of potential recovery techniques revealed that all proposed methods carried severe risks to the lakes’ sensitive ecosystems.
Looking Ahead
As the Swiss government seeks innovative solutions to address this pressing issue, the hidden munitions in these alpine lakes continue to pose environmental and safety concerns. The search for a viable method to safely remove the munitions is ongoing, with the hope that the current efforts will lead to a resolution that protects both the environment and public safety.
