The drinking water in Bern, the federal city of Switzerland and its de facto capital, meets high-quality standards because the Water Supplier Bern (WVRB, Wasserverbund Region Bern) has taken early measures to protect it. The WVRB supplies drinking water to over 210,000 people in Bern and the surrounding municipalities. However, the distribution of drinking water and public fountains falls under the jurisdiction of EWB (Energie Wasser Bern).

• The WVRB invests heavily in preventive groundwater protection and continuously monitors the quality of drinking water.
• For microbiological and chemical-physical water testing, the utility uses analysis devices. The city laboratory in Bern takes and analyzes water samples daily on working days.
• Additionally, minnows, small fish from the carp family, are kept in basins. These fish are extremely sensitive to the smallest changes in water quality, serving as an additional natural early warning system.
• Moreover, agricultural use is heavily restricted in water protection zones to meet high drinking water standards.

Water Distribution in Bern

All urban properties are connected to the EWB (Energie Wasser Bern) water network. This network distributes drinking, fire-fighting, and process water from reservoirs and pumping stations to households, fire protection systems, businesses, and industries. EWB keeps the urban water network in consistently good condition through maintenance, inspections, and expansion work, ensuring consistently high water quality.

Drinking Water from the Tap in Bern

• Bern's water supplier, WVRB, together with EWB, provides customers with high-quality drinking water. The supplier operates numerous facilities for water extraction, storage, and treatment.
• Tap water in Bern is considered particularly good.
• The strictly controlled, natural water contains many valuable minerals and is highly appreciated for its taste by customers.
• This is why 65 percent of Bern residents drink tap water several times a day.
• Those who do so save themselves from carrying mineral water crates or plastic bottles from the supermarket.
• Thus, drinking water is always delivered cost-effectively directly to one's home.
• This happens without long transport routes, generates no plastic waste, and effectively protects the environment.
• Providing tap water requires only a thousandth of the energy needed for bottled mineral water.
• By enjoying their lifeblood directly from the tap, individuals save both the environment and their own wallets.

Drinking Water from Public Fountains

EWB maintains 102 fountains in the city on behalf of the municipality, 36 of which are located in the city center alone. Thanks to regular maintenance and the complete avoidance of chemical cleaning agents, everyone can enjoy healthy, clean drinking water directly from these 36 fountains in the city center. For Bern residents, this is a given, but for tourists, it's an absolute novelty.

Focus on Water Quality

• The drinking water demand in Bern is met with groundwater from the Aare Valley and the Emmental region.
• The groundwater is characterized by exceptional purity, eliminating the need for treatment.
• This clean water is collected in a reservoir and then distributed to consumers.
• Water supply companies are responsible for water quality up to the house meter or apartment connection.

Water Analysis in Bern: Outstanding Results

Since Bern's water supply comes from three sources—Aare Valley (Belpau), Emmental, and Kiesen—the composition of water varies slightly across the city. These differences are due to soil composition, seasonal influences, and the depth of each water source. The following values represent minimum and maximum ranges, which transition smoothly across the city. These values rival any mineral water.

• Magnesium: 5.4 mg/l - 9.7 mg/l
• Calcium: 64 mg/l - 73 mg/l
• Sodium: 3.5 mg/l - 4.5 mg/l
• Nitrate content: 4.8 mg/l - 6.0 mg/l
• pH value: 7.6 - 7.7
• Water hardness in Bern ranges from 20 fh (11 dh) to 30 fh (17 dh).

Sources:

• Water Supplier Bern: Water Supply in Bern
• Water Supply in the Bern Region