As a water research institute Eawag has three major focus areas:
Water for human welfare
Safe drinking water supply and wastewater disposal are essential to maintain human welfare.
Eawag research projects aim to develop optimum approaches and strategies to meet future threats caused by increasing contamination, population growth, and climate change.

Water for ecosystem function
The increasing  pressure of civilisation has a negative influence on the water environment and ecosystems.
Developing strategies and measures to both strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems.
Maintaining a sustainable provision of ecosystem services is another focus of Eawag research.

Strategies for trade-offs and competing demands
Water use conflicts arise when direct human needs for water and the prevention of negative impacts on ecosystems have to be accommodated at the same time.
Eawag research projects develop integrated approaches and put specific emphasis on strategies to meet energy concerns in the context of trade-offs and competing demands.

The Eawag has twelve research departments, where research is conducted by natural and social scientists and engineers.
This combination permits a wide range of water research.
These departments are: 
Aquatic Ecology (ECO) - investigates life in water and encompasses various disciplines within ecology and evolutionary biology.

Environmental Chemistry (UCHEM) - researches the effect of contaminants in waters and their reduction to improve water quality.

Environmental Microbiology (UMIK) - deals with microbial life and activities in surface and ground water, in drinking water and in technical systems such as wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment plants.

Environmental Social Sciences (ESS) - investigates environment-related societal processes from the background of several social science disciplines.

Environmental Toxicology (UTOX) - aims to recognize and understand the effects of chemicals on the aquatic environment.

Fish Ecology and Evolution (FISHEC) - investigates the life, evolution and biodiversity of aquatic organisms, most especially fish.

Process Engineering (ENG) - deals with current and future problems of wastewater and drinking water treatment, as well as the protection of water resources and resource recycling.

Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (SANDEC) - by enhancing local competencies, Sandec contributes to improvements in water supply and wastewater management in developing countries.

Surface Waters Research and Management (SURF) - researches and manages aquatic system processes.

System Analysis, Integrated Assessment and Modelling (SIAM) - develops models and techniques in order to understand and predict processes which affect water and other natural resources.

Urban Water Management (SWW) - strives to develop sustainable concepts for water and nutrient cycles in urban areas.

Water Resource and Drinking Water - (W+T) - researches physical and chemical processes in bodies of water with the aim of ensuring the long-term quantity and quality of drinking water.

Together with external partners and various Eawag departments, the Eawag directs and participates in interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary projects in order to combine pure research with practical problem-solving.
As a water research institute Eawag has three major focus areas:
Water for human welfare
Safe drinking water supply and wastewater disposal are essential to maintain human welfare. Eawag research projects aim to develop optimum approaches and strategies to meet future threats caused by increasing contamination, population growth, and climate change.
Water for ecosystem function
The increasing  pressure of civilisation has a negative influence on the water environment and ecosystems. Developing strategies and measures to both strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems. Maintaining a sustainable provision of ecosystem services is another focus of Eawag research. 
Strategies for trade-offs and competing demands
Water use conflicts arise when direct human needs for water and the prevention of negative impacts on ecosystems have to be accommodated at the same time. Eawag research projects develop integrated approaches and put specific emphasis on strategies to meet energy concerns in the context of trade-offs and competing demands.
The Eawag has twelve research departments, where research is conducted by natural and social scientists and engineers. This combination permits a wide range of water research. These departments are: 
Aquatic Ecology (ECO) - investigates life in water and encompasses various disciplines within ecology and evolutionary biology.
Environmental Chemistry (UCHEM) - researches the effect of contaminants in waters and their reduction to improve water quality.
Environmental Microbiology (UMIK) - deals with microbial life and activities in surface and ground water, in drinking water and in technical systems such as wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment plants.
Environmental Social Sciences (ESS) - investigates environment-related societal processes from the background of several social science disciplines.
Environmental Toxicology (UTOX) - aims to recognize and understand the effects of chemicals on the aquatic environment.
Fish Ecology and Evolution (FISHEC) - investigates the life, evolution and biodiversity of aquatic organisms, most especially fish.
Process Engineering (ENG) - deals with current and future problems of wastewater and drinking water treatment, as well as the protection of water resources and resource recycling.
Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (SANDEC) - by enhancing local competencies, Sandec contributes to improvements in water supply and wastewater management in developing countries.
Surface Waters Research and Management (SURF) - researches and manages aquatic system processes.
System Analysis, Integrated Assessment and Modelling (SIAM) - develops models and techniques in order to understand and predict processes which affect water and other natural resources.
Urban Water Management (SWW) - strives to develop sustainable concepts for water and nutrient cycles in urban areas.
Water Resource and Drinking Water - (W+T) - researches physical and chemical processes in bodies of water with the aim of ensuring the long-term quantity and quality of drinking water.
Together with external partners and various Eawag departments, the Eawag directs and participates in interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary projects in order to combine pure research with practical problem-solving.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology