Sampling and production of drinking water

The water from your tap does not flow naturally. It is drawn from nature and must be treated to become potable.

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT takes water from the natural environment (rivers, water tables, lakes, springs, etc.) and then delivers it to water treatment plants. Your water then goes through various stages of filtration and treatment.

Effectively meeting drinking water needs

Water is not equally available everywhere.

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT provides pragmatic solutions tailored to local challenges to improve access to quality water for as many people as possible.

Indirect production of drinking water due to replenishment of water tables is increasing significantly. In the Paris region, Lyonnaise des Eaux has developed an innovative process to artificially replenish the water table that makes it possible to guarantee the safety of the water supply for Le Pecq and Aubervilliers.

The desalination of seawater or brackish water by reverse osmosis has also emerged as a promising solution. Degrémont’s expertise in this area was recognised when it was distinguished at the 2010 Global Water Intelligence Awards as the desalination company of the year. The desalination plant in Barcelona (Spain) and the desalination agreement for the Victoria Desalination Plant in Melbourne (Australia) also received awards for “Plant of the Year” and “Contract of the Year”.

Ensuring the quality of the most controlled food product in France

Water is the most tightly controlled food product in France. For water to be deemed “potable” it must meet 54 quality criteria defined by the Ministry of Health, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization.

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is dedicated to guaranteeing the supply of clean drinking water through advanced technologies (ultrafiltration membranes, etc.) and rigorous operating processes. Aigües de Barcelona, a subsidiary of Agbar, has obtained ISO 22000 certification, making it a world leader in managing the sanitary quality of water.

Conserving water resources

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is committed to fighting against the waste of a valuable resource that is increasingly expensive to produce: drinking water. Despite a large regional disparity in resource availability and the costs associated with drinking water production, the Group strives to fight against network losses.

It also aims to promote more responsible resource management through:

• protection and conservation solutions,
• prescriptions for alternative resources (reuse of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation or industrial use, desalination of seawater),
• the introduction of new water-saving services (remote meter reading).

In Malta, Ondeo Systems has signed an agreement with IBM to equip the inhabitants’ 250,000 water meters with remote reading technology. Malta faces a severe shortage of natural water resources, and these meters will allow its inhabitants’ consumption to be accurately tracked.

Key figures

• 3.5 million people supplied with drinking water in Sydney (the Group meets 20% of the drinking water needs of Australia)
• 13 million people in Spain supplied with drinking water
• 13 million people in China supplied with drinking water
• 12 million people supplied with drinking water by Lyonnaise des Eaux