Master's Project
Students can find on this page the general requirements and evaluation system for a Master's Project at the Chairs of Urban Water Management at ETH Zurich. They can also find a list of currently offered topics.
Supervisors can find on this page information about the requirements the students must fulfil to complete a Master's Project at the Chairs of Urban Water Management at ETH Zurich, organizational and didactical information and the templates for the proposal of new Master's Projects.
Information for Students
Would you like to start a Master's Project Work with the Chairs of Urban Water Management? The schematic provides an overview of the necessary steps. Please read the Guidance PDFs below. Communicate your intention to the responsible teaching coordinator and contact them for any additional information.
- Download Guidance MSc Project at SWW (PDF, 142 KB)
- Download Guidance for BSc and MSc Theses and Projects in Environmental Engineering (PDF, 160 KB)
- Download Citation-Guidelines (PDF, 65 KB)
- Download Guide to report writing (PDF, 68 KB)
- Download Evaluation criteria (PDF, 64 KB)
- Plagiarism
- Prevention of plagiarism
Information for Supervisors
Would you like to supervise a thesis for the Chairs of Urban Water Management? Please read the Guidance PDFs below and use the Project Work Proposal Template to submit a topic to the responsible teaching coordinator. A professor will have to approve the topic before it will be uploaded on this page.
To promote your topic further, you are welcome to send us a short slide deck about your proposed topic(s). Our professors can then publicize your thesis topic during their lectures.
Contact
For inquiries or to submit a proposal, please check the Teaching Coordinators webpage and contact the coordinator responsible for Master's Projects.
Currently Offered Topics
Below you can see the topics currently offered by EAWAG researchers and private partners. If you are interested in one of the offered topics, contact the person indicated. Once you agree you will do your Master's Project with them, contact the responsible teaching coordinator to obtain the documentation form.
You can also independently find a supervisor to develop your own topic. In this case, inform the responsible teaching coordinator from the beginning and a potential supervising professor of your intention. Be aware that the professor will have to approve a certain topic as the subject of a Master's Project.
The HIL building at ETH will undergo a substantial renovation. ETH aims to create a showcase how cutting-edge technologies can make buildings more sustainable. With this master project we would like to develop a water concept that fits this inspiration... Read More
Water scarcity is a threat to agricultural activities, even in Switzerland. For this reason, reduced water consumption and the reuse of treated water for household and irrigation purposes are becoming increasingly attractive. However, when reusing water, it must be ensured that the treated water does not pose any health or environmental risks. As part of this master's project, you will scientifically supervise a greywater reuse system by monitoring whether the system meets legal requirements. In September 2024, a system will be put into operation on a permaculture farm in the canton of Lucerne, designed to close the water cycle of the residential building. The farm ... Download Read More (PDF, 115 KB)
Many municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the world are approaching their maximum capacities, while the space is limited for plant expansion or new facilities. With increasingly stringent legislative requirements, there is a crucial need of biological process intensification. Densified Activated Sludge (DAS), a mixture of flocs and small, dense granules (average diameter ca. 200~500 microns), offers significant advantages over conventional activated sludge, such as higher biomass retention and improved settleability [1, 2]. Several Swiss WWTPs, including the biggest WWTP in Zurich “Werdhölzli”, are adopting DAS to enhance treatment efficiency... Download Read more (PDF, 825 KB)
Contact: Mengqi Zhu ()
Swiss wastewater treatment plants may require nitrogen removal efficiencies of 70-80% or more in the future. This poses a significant challenge for denitrification in the biological treatment processes of many WWTPs. Capacity expansions, retrofitting, and operational optimizations will be necessary in many cases. In this master project, a case study... (Download Read more (PDF, 68 KB))
Contact: Alain Meyer ()
This work is part of an effort to optimize a novel treatment technology that reduces the nitrogen load of N-enriched side-streamt from municpal wastewater plants and produces a valuable fertilizer. Improvements in specific steps of the process can be made to facilitate continuous operation and reduce the capital and operational costs. This work will look deepeter into chemical processes occurring during the pretreatment step ... Download Read more (PDF, 174 KB)
Contact: Christophe Bonvin ()
Der energieintensivste Posten auf einer ARA ist die Belüftung, welche von der CSB-Fracht im Zulauf abhängig ist. Mehr als 50–60 % der CSB-Gewässeremissionen in Einzugsgebieten mit Mischwasserkanalisation stammen aus Entlastungsbauwerken. Im Einzugsgebiet zur ARA Bachwis befindet sich ein Entlastungsbauwerk, welches Mischwasser in den Greifensee entlastet. Im Rahmen der Arbeit soll die Polstofffiltration auf ihre Eignung als Rohwasserfiltration getestet werden (erhöhte CSB-Ausschleusung, Ersatz/Entlastung Vorklärung)... (Download Read more (PDF, 134 KB))
Contact: Nikolai Otto ()
The natural water balance in urban areas is significantly influenced by infrastructure and a high degree of surface sealing. These factors can amplify the negative impacts of climate change, for example, through overheating in highly sealed city areas or the overloading of sewer systems during heavy rainfall events. Although numerous tools exist for modelling the water balance in rural or natural areas, a significant knowledge gap persists...(Download Read more (PDF, 96 KB))
Contact: Danielle Mayer ()
The recovery and reuse of resources from wastewater is facilitated by separating streams at the source. This includes separate collection of, for example, a urine and a fecal stream, a greywater stream, a rainwater stream. Each stream requires dedicated collection piping. In the case
of water reuse, the treated water requires distribution piping for indoor or
outdoor reuse. Replacing our current “one pipe in, one pipe out” paradigm with several parallel pipes increases. ... (Download Read more (PDF, 153 KB))
Contact: Rosanne Wielemaker ()
Micropollutants (MPs) are a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is a proven technology to remove MPs. However, optimal design and operation of GAC columns for treatment are necessary to ensure its efficiency. There are currently no satisfactory models that accurately describe the removal of MPs during wastewater treatment. One reason is because wastewater – as opposed to drinking water – has a very high load of unknown organic molecules and its composition is constantly changing with time. We have collected over 4 years of data from a Swiss Wastewater Treatment plant, and... (Download Read more (PDF, 644 KB))
Contact: Andreas Froemelt () & José Cordero ()
As the City of Zurich continues to grow and adapt to climate change, blue-green infrastructure (BGI) is increasingly being implemented to improve stormwater management and mitigate urban heat island effects. This project will use continuous measurements of wastewater flow and quality from two urban catchments to assess how urbanisation and BGI influence the hydrological response of the city over time. Download Read more (PDF, 105 KB)
Contact: Philipp Staufer (, +41 44 417 52 04)
Mit der ARA Thurau entsteht eine neue regionale Abwasserreinigungsanlage für rund 130'000 Einwohnerwerte. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die simulationsgestützte Optimierung der Wasser- und Schmutzfrachtflüsse im zukünftigen Entwässerungssystem. Bestehende SIMBA#-Modelle werden erweitert und validiert, um verschiedene Betriebsstrategien zu untersuchen. Im Fokus stehen die dynamische Bewirtschaftung von Mischabwasserspeichern, der Einsatz von 2D-Regenradardaten sowie die Glättung von Zuflussmengen und Schmutzfrachten zur Verbesserung von Gewässerschutz und Anlagenbetrieb. Download Read more (PDF, 236 KB)
Contact: Markus Gresch,
Robin Aerts,
Ken Stadelmann,
Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Optimierung der geplanten ARA Thurau für rund 130'000 Einwohnerwerte. Mithilfe eines bestehenden Simulationsmodells (SIMBA#) werden verschiedene Betriebsstrategien zur Verbesserung der Stickstoffelimination untersucht, um die künftig geforderte Eliminationsleistung von bis zu 80 % zu erreichen. Dabei werden Ansätze wie Mehrfachbeschickung, tagesgangabhängige Bewirtschaftung, Umfahrung der Vorklärung und Glättung der Zulauffracht unter verschiedenen Betriebsbedingungen simuliert und hinsichtlich ihres Potenzials bewertet. Ziel ist die Entwicklung effizienter Betriebskonzepte für den zukünftigen Anlagenbetrieb. Download Read more (PDF, 300 KB)
Contact: Markus Gresch,
Robin Aerts,
Ken Stadelmann,
Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Optimierung der biologischen Reinigungsstufe der ARA Matzingen für rund 60'000 Einwohnerwerte. Mithilfe eines Simulationsmodells (z. B. SIMBA# oder SUMO) werden verschiedene Betriebsstrategien zur Verbesserung der Stickstoffelimination untersucht, um die künftig geforderte Eliminationsleistung von 80 % zu erreichen. Der Fokus liegt auf betrieblichen Optimierungsmassnahmen ohne grössere bauliche Eingriffe, wobei die besonderen Randbedingungen der Anlage – wie die getrennten Zuläufe und die Beckenaufteilung – berücksichtigt werden. Ziel ist die Entwicklung effizienter Betriebskonzepte sowie die Beurteilung, ob die gesetzlichen Anforderungen und zukünftige Belastungssteigerungen mit den vorhandenen Anlagenkapazitäten erfüllt werden können. Download Read more (PDF, 244 KB)
Contact: Tobias Bührer,
Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Weiterentwicklung und Optimierung eines bestehenden Simulationsmodells (SUMO) der ARA Bischofszell. Im Fokus stehen die Erreichung der künftig geforderten Stickstoffelimination von 80 % sowie die Steigerung der Energieeffizienz durch eine kaskadierte Biologie mit Polyzonen (Swing-Zonen). Das bestehende Modell wird ergänzt, validiert und für die Untersuchung verschiedener Betriebsstrategien genutzt, wobei insbesondere die Einflüsse des industriell geprägten Abwassers, der Rücklaufbelastungen aus Faulwasser und Zentrat sowie dynamischer Betriebsbedingungen berücksichtigt werden. Ziel ist die Entwicklung robuster und energieeffizienter Betriebskonzepte für den zukünftigen Anlagenbetrieb. Download Read more (PDF, 131 KB)
Contact: Tobias Bührer,
Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Optimierung des Anlagenbetriebs der ARA Altenrhein für rund 240'000 Einwohnerwerte. Mithilfe eines bestehenden Simulationsmodells wird der Einfluss der Stollenbewirtschaftung auf die Reinigungsleistung, Anlagenkapazität und Energieeffizienz untersucht. Dabei werden verschiedene Bewirtschaftungsstrategien simuliert und hinsichtlich ihres Potenzials zur Verbesserung der Stickstoff- und Mikroverunreinigungselimination bewertet. Ziel ist die Entwicklung optimierter Betriebskonzepte, um die zukünftigen gesetzlichen Anforderungen zu erfüllen und den Anlagenbetrieb langfristig effizienter zu gestalten. Download Read more (PDF, 129 KB)
Contact: Tobias Bührer,
Climate change and urbanisation are placing increasing pressure on wastewater systems and receiving waters, making integrated management of sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) increasingly important. In this Master's project, an existing sewer network model (SWMM) will be coupled with a WWTP process model for the Limeco catchment and validated using monitoring data. The integrated model will serve as a basis for evaluating future system-wide optimisation strategies, supporting improved treatment performance and more efficient operation of existing infrastructure.. Download Read more (PDF, 67 KB)
Contact: Jörg Rieckermann,
Sovanna Tik,
Long-term rainfall data are essential for the hydraulic assessment of urban drainage systems, but sufficiently long and representative measurement records are often unavailable. In this Master's project, synthetic rainfall time series will be generated for the LIMECO catchment using stochastic rainfall modelling and evaluated for their suitability in sewer network simulations. The work includes validating the generated data against observations and deriving a representative rainfall event catalogue in accordance with the 2025 VSA guideline, providing a practical tool for future hydraulic assessments. Download Read more (PDF, 121 KB)
Contact: Jörg Rieckermann,
Wenyue Zou,
Existing pumping stations in sewer networks often contain unused storage capacity that could be exploited to improve wastewater system performance without additional infrastructure. In this Master's project, the storage potential and operational behaviour of pumping stations will be analysed, and new control strategies will be developed to actively buffer wastewater flows. The aim is to reduce influent load fluctuations at the wastewater treatment plant, improve treatment performance, and minimise combined sewer overflow discharges. Download Read more (PDF, 148 KB)
Contact: Jörg Rieckermann,
Sovanna Tik,
Hospitals are important sources of pharmaceuticals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and other micropollutants in municipal wastewater. This Master's project investigates how retention tanks at hospitals can be optimally designed and operated to maximise the transfer of hospital wastewater to wastewater treatment plants while reducing direct discharges during storm events. The work includes developing a design methodology, evaluating suitable monitoring concepts, and testing control strategies through case studies to support more effective micropollutant removal. Download Read more (PDF, 222 KB)
Contact: Jörg Rieckermann,
Sovanna Tik,
Many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are reaching their capacity limits, while opportunities for expansion are increasingly constrained. Densified Activated Sludge (DAS), consisting of flocs and small granules, offers a promising approach to intensify biological treatment by improving biomass retention and settling properties.In this project, a DAS-SBR model will be developed in SUMO and calibrated and validated using real-world operational data. The model will be used to investigate different operating conditions and optimize system performance, including the effects of granule fractions, dynamic influent conditions, and aeration strategies on nitrogen removal. Download Read more (PDF, 293 KB)
Contact: Mengqi Zhu,