|  Organoleptic quality of drinking water: drinking water, a question of taste and odour
Although subject to extremely stringent health and safety controls, occasional problems can occur with drinking water, such as bad taste and odours. These problems have been widely researched. Capitalising on more than 20 years experience and working with several partners, researchers at CIRSEE (the SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT International Research Centre on Water and the Environment) have developed the "Tastes and Odours in Drinking Water" service for the company's operators. Based on unique know-how, it detects, characterises and treats the compounds that generate tastes and odours in drinking water. This service also backs up training and communication actions aimed at local authorities and the consumer. For example a taste observatory and a panel made up of 180 consumers, who are trained to recognise tastes and odours, were established in the Ile-de-France region (Presqu’île de Gennevilliers) with the aim of improving the taste quality of the water.
 Leak detection with Aviz’eau
The teams at Lyonnaise des Eaux and CIRSEE have developed a long-range, remote meter-reading system called "Aviz’eau". Unlike the system requiring meters to be read on an annual basis, the fixed remote-metering system automatically measures consumption. Water consumption is monitored daily, making it easy to identify abnormal consumption and ensuring swift detection of leaks in the network. Following in the line of existing leak-detection technologies, this remote metering system improves management of the local authorities' assets. In addition to detecting leaks, the system optimises meter reading, enables monitoring of consumption, and provides an excellent service. This technology is currently deployed in France on the Left Bank of Paris and in the rural area of Vrigne-aux-Bois (Ardennes). It is now a service offered by Lyonnaise des Eaux to all its local authority customers and is currently being rolled out at a dozen or so sites in France.
 AMI: a cutting-edge IT system
Every day, 2,000 Lyonnaise des Eaux employees perform work on the drinking water system networks and connections of 14 million households in France. The challenge for SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is to make sure its local networks respond effectively in carrying out emergency, connection or extension works. To meet this challenge, Lyonnaise des Eaux has already equipped 1,500 of its staff with Mobile Intervention Assistants (AMI). These pocket AMI terminals are multifunctional (phone, digital camera, and computer) and are designed to optimise our response and the quality of the work we do. AMI reduces the lead-time in processing customer orders and facilitates personalised follow-up. Awarded the "Major Account Business Application" prize at the Mobile Office Trade Show in Paris, AMI backs up and facilitates the work of our employees. The features of the mobile device include real-time updates to information, traceability and schedule management. AMI has already won over those who tried it.
 | A new hydrophilic polysulphone membrane Degrémont Technologies and Aquasource have developed ALTEON™, a new hydrophilic polysulphone membrane. A hollow-fibre membrane filtering water from the inside out, ALTEON™ can be used to : - treat surface water,
- for the recycling of municipal and industrial wastewater,
- for the desalination of seawater by preliminary treatment during a reverse osmosis stage.
| The fibres are arranged in bundles, which are then placed inside a cylinder made of a composite material. The bundles are held together with resin, ensuring a perfect and permanent seal, while guaranteeing effective containment of viruses. The wall acts as a filter retaining all particles larger than 0.02 micron: pollen, algae, parasites, bacteria, viruses, germs and many organic molecules. The result is pure water, with a turbidity of less than 0.1 NFU. Counter-current washing easily eliminates the particles retained on the surface of the inner sleeve. Furthermore, ALTEON™ offers one of the lowest cut-off thresholds in the market and is available in a wide range of modules, with filtration capacities from 7 to 150m2. Resistant to chemical products and a wide pH range, it reduces the rate of residual chlorine in the water. It is certified both in France (DGS) and the United States (NSF). To date, several membranes have been installed at partners of Degrémont Technologies Aquasource in France and elsewhere. |
