Conserving water resources

Water resources: towards rational consumption

Over 50 countries, representing 40% of the world’s population, are at risk of a drinking water shortage by 2025. Successfully using and conserving water is therefore a key challenge for the Group.

Through its businesses, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT promotes the conservation of water resources by:

• raising consumer awareness of the need to save water resources by fighting against waste and optimising distribution networks through dedicated technical offers (leak detection, improved network yields, etc.),
• using alternative resources such as reusing treated water for agricultural and industrial purposes, desalting sea water and replenishing water tables.

Fighting against water pollution

Half the world’s fresh water reserves are polluted despite strict regulations and massive investments, particularly in Europe. Water resources in some areas are overexploited and pollution from nitrates, which are used heavily in agriculture, remains a concern.

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is committed to combating water pollution by providing communities and industries with increasingly efficient wastewater treatment plants and anticipating future regulations in its research programmes. In partnership with Cemagref, the Group has thereby initiated the Ampères research programme to deal with the treatment of organic micropollutants in wastewater plants. Specifically, this programme aims to analyse the different wastewater treatment technologies that will eliminate these substances. It has demonstrated that wastewater treatment plants stop 85% of priority substances.

In September 2011, Axelera, a competitiveness cluster, and SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT presented the results of the RHODANOS programme. This programme aims to control pollution from industrial, urban and storm runoff. Launched in 2006 and conducted in partnership with other industrial groups, RHODANOS has made concrete technological advances possible for local communities:

• The Ecobleach project, supported by Arkema, is trying to reduce the impact of bleaching effluents on the environment. It has made possible the development of a more environmentally-friendly bleaching process by replacing soda with milder bases.
• Through 5 projects (VALOBI, REFSTEP, SOQER, ESPRIT and ACCEPTO), SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT and its partners have developed innovative solutions to build more eco-friendly wastewater plants.

Promoting the integrated management of water resources

SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT focuses on developing the integrated management of water resources. This is encouraged by the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development adopted in 2002, which advocates:

• respecting natural balance related to water,
• developing and mastering resource mobilisation,
• guaranteeing fair distribution between users.

This goal can be achieved by creating and strengthening institutions that promote dialogue between water management stakeholders.

Thanks to strong local foundations, the Group is able to develop long-term partnerships with authorities, local businesses and national contacts.