Media release

#prixalpiq 2026 – Water as a source of innovation: from digitalised irrigation channels to untapped resources in our tunnels

10/29/2026, 10:00 | Media release

Lausanne – In its sixth edition, the #prixalpiq is recognising two innovative projects that provide practical solutions to water management challenges. The Upper Valais municipality of Törbel has won the #prixalpiq 2026 for a project to digitalise the management of its traditional irrigation channels, developed through a participatory process. The jury’s “Coup de Cœur” award goes to the municipality of Zermatt for its project to capture drinking water from the walls of a tunnel, thereby strengthening the local water supply.

How can we manage an increasingly precious resource such as water more effectively without consuming more of it? The sixth edition of the #prixalpiq is recognising two projects that exemplify this approach: in Törbel, the project combines the digitalisation of a centuries-old irrigation system with the involvement of the local population; in Zermatt, it focuses on the innovative use of a previously untapped water source. Together with the Valais Association of Concession-Granting Municipalities (ACC), Alpiq announced the two winning projects at an awards ceremony held on 28 October in the Aula at HES-SO Valais-Wallis in Sion.

“The year 2026 has been a stark reminder of the importance of sustainable water management,” says Michaël Plaschy, President of the #prixalpiq jury and Head of Hydropower Generation at Alpiq. “While the challenges are complex, they call for practical solutions that are driven by municipalities in collaboration with local stakeholders. This is precisely the purpose of the support provided by the #prixalpiq.”

David Melly, President of the ACC, adds: “The projects submitted this year clearly demonstrate that Valais municipalities are capable of developing solutions tailored to their specific circumstances. With the very different proposals from Törbel and Zermatt, we are recognising two exemplary initiatives that can inspire others far beyond their respective municipal boundaries.”

A participatory process in Törbel: measuring, planning and automating irrigation

In Törbel, the municipal irrigation system is based on a traditional network of bisses and infrastructure developed over generations, including more than 600 sprinklers. With the “O-STROM” project, the municipality does not aim to draw more water, but to gain better information about the available water resources, distribute water more precisely and use it more efficiently. Several pilot sites have been equipped with sensors to collect the data required for a real-time digital representation of the network. Water distribution among the various intakes is also set to be automated, reducing travel distances, directing water to where it is needed and enabling a faster response to disruptions.

The Upper Valais municipality of Törbel has won the #prixalpiq 2026
Thanks to new technologies, Törbel will be able to manage its water distribution more effectively, directing it more efficiently to where it is needed while reducing the need for human intervention and travel.

The project also places the network’s users at its heart. Interviews, workshops and questionnaires helped to develop a solution that is simple, useful and compatible with traditional practices. This combination of digitalisation and local participation won over the jury.

“We cannot influence how much water is available to us. But we can influence how we manage it,” says municipal councillor Renato Karlen. “With O-STROM, we want to improve our traditional irrigation system by using modern measurement data and more flexible planning and control, make more efficient use of the available water and make day-to-day operations easier for users. For us, the #prixalpiq is valuable recognition and support as we continue along this path.”

Designed as a pilot, the project could subsequently be extended to other water intakes in Törbel and to other mountain municipalities.

A new drinking water source in the heart of a tunnel in Zermatt

The jury’s “Coup de Cœur” award goes to AquaCapture, a project submitted by the municipality of Zermatt. In a tunnel in the Seikre area, natural spring water emerges directly from the rock at several points. Until now, this water has not been specifically used for the drinking water supply.

The jury’s “Coup de Cœur” award goes to AquaCapture, submitted by the municipality of Zermatt.
The installation for collecting spring water from the rock involves relatively limited intervention, but can make a valuable contribution to the drinking water supply of the municipality of Zermatt.

The project involves developing a standardised stainless-steel collection system designed to capture and protect the spring water directly at its natural outlet. The structure and construction principle remain the same, with only the dimensions adapted to each water outlet. The captured spring water will be conveyed through the existing water supply pipelines to the nearest reservoir, thereby improving Zermatt’s security of supply.

The project thus makes use of an existing local water resource for the drinking water supply. Thanks to its adaptability, the system could also be used in other tunnels with comparable conditions – an aspect that particularly interested the jury.

“We are convinced that this solution can open up new prospects for many Alpine municipalities facing similar drinking water supply challenges,” says Stephan Amrein, Head of Water Supply at the municipality of Zermatt.

Seventeen projects and just as many solutions for sustainable water management

Seventeen projects were submitted to the #prixalpiq 2026 jury. They cover a wide range of challenges, including drinking water supply, irrigation, the revitalisation of watercourses, awareness-raising and the enhancement of cultural heritage.

The jury assessed the entries against criteria including sustainable management of water resources, feasibility, economic and social benefits for municipalities, and the level of innovation.

The awards ceremony was preceded by a presentation entitled “Traditional irrigation channels – a living legacy of sustainable modernity and the multifunctionality of water”, followed by a panel discussion on multifunctional water management. In this context, Törbel’s example shows how a centuries-old irrigation heritage can evolve through data and automation without losing its local roots.

About the #prixalpiq

Established in 2021 and organised by Alpiq together with the Valais Association of Concession-Granting Municipalities (ACC), the #prixalpiq recognises sustainable water management projects in agriculture, the environment, energy, tourism, culture and other fields. With a total value of CHF 50,000, the awards support the development of specific projects led or sponsored by municipalities in Valais.