50,000 Francs for Ideas to Remove Unexploded Ammo from Swiss Lakes

Do you know a way to remove unexploded ammunition from the bottom of lakes in Switzerland? The Swiss government wants your ideas and is offering up to 50,000 francs as a reward!

12,000 Tons of Ammunition Under Swiss Lakes

Swiss lakes are beautiful, but there is a dangerous secret under some of them. The government recently said that there are 3,300 tons of ammunition under Lake Lucerne and 4,500 tons under Lake Neuchâtel. In total, more than 12,000 tons of unexploded bombs and ammunition are in Swiss waters. Between 1918 and 1964, the Swiss Army threw bombs and ammunition into Lakes Thun, Lucerne, and Brienz.

Until 2021, the Swiss Air Force also used Lake Neuchâtel for bombing practice. Most of the ammunition is 150 to 220 meters deep, but some are just seven meters below the surface. There are two risks with this ammunition. First, the ammunition can still explode because the army did not remove the fuses before dumping them. Second, a report in 2020 said that the ammunition doesn’t affect water quality if left alone, but it could become a big environmental problem if not handled carefully.

Swiss Government Wants Ideas on How to Remove the Ammo

Because of this, the Swiss government is asking for ideas. You can send your suggestions on how to safely and environmentally remove the ammunition by February. In February, experts will choose the three best ideas, and the winners will share 50,000 francs. A spokesperson for the government said they are not planning to remove the ammunition yet but want to have options ready if the ammo starts polluting the water.

Ideas already discussed include using magnets, mechanical grippers, underwater vacuums, and robots. However, because of the low visibility and depth of some lakes, these ideas may not work. While anyone can make suggestions, the government hopes to get ideas from industries, universities, and research organizations. Some public suggestions include draining the lakes to remove the ammo, blowing up the munitions underwater, or using scuba divers to remove them one by one.