Switzerland offers $60,000 cash prize for ideas to get rid of military munitions from lakes

According to a news release, military ammunition — including obsolete or surplus ammunition, “problem ammunition” or rejected lots — was dumped in lakes across the country between 1918 and 1964 because it was then believed to be a safe disposal method.

Most of the ammunition is submerged between 150 and 220 meters deep in Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Lake Lucerne, the press release said.

Lake Neuchâtel also has about 4,500 tons of munitions in its waters due to years of bombing practices by the Swiss Air Force.

The department is now reaching out to academics and industry workers as it looks at how to achieve “green and safe recovery of munitions from deep lakes” – which pose an explosion risk and could also lead to pollution in the lakes.

The contest opened earlier this month, and entries can be submitted until February 6, 2025, with winners announced in April of that year.

The winning ideas will not be put into action immediately, but rather serve as a basis for further research, says Armasuisse.

Any rescue operation is expected to cost billions, the BBC reported.