Protecting the environment

Collectively protecting the resource, in terms of quality and quantity, has become a priority. This is why we implement a comprehensive approach that takes into account the entire water cycle.

Producing drinking water responsibly

The production of drinking water requires the resources from which raw water is drawn, which will then be treated to become drinkable and distributed to users. We offer solutions that protect water resources by limiting the impact of withdrawals:

• Intelligent management of boreholes equipped with sensors that provide operating data with AQUADVANCED® Well Watch
• Modelling of raw water quality to combat nitrates
• Fight against leaks, often the first cause of waste, by optimising the performance of the networks and thus preserving the resource thanks to AQUADVANCED® Water Networks
• Mobilising alternative resources by giving a second life to wastewater with REUSE

Collecting and treating wastewater and stormwater

Wastewater and collected rainwater are potential sources of pollution for the natural environment where they are discharged. We support the progress of regulatory frameworks by developing advanced technologies to optimise the treatment of this water, and thus avoid any contamination of water resources:

• Optimal decontamination of wastewater and collected rainwater to limit its impact on the natural environment
• Anticipation and management of emergency situations through intelligent systems and maximisation of facility capacities with AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage

To maintain water resources, the challenge is to monitor the water table, combined with optimal management of withdrawals, including water sobriety. After preliminary study, we offer solutions for recharging aquifers that can use treated wastewater or river water. The system is secured by qualitative and quantitative monitoring, possibly supplemented by treatments.

Our solutions to fight against the drop in water tables:

• Conducting preliminary studies
• Sampling management and groundwater monitoring
• Recharging groundwater: process inspired by the natural water cycle, recharge from treated raw water from another source or recharge from treated wastewater
• Associated treatments

For anticipatory and dynamic management of the resource, we deploy solutions for the continuous monitoring of natural environments and biodiversity: 

• Introduction of sensors and probes connected to servers and coupled with decision-making tools
• Real-time information management, thanks in particular to all our AQUADVANCED® smart solutions (e.g. calculation of the impact of rainfall in real time on the wastewater system, the city and the water in the natural environment)
• Integration and modelling of bacteriological and meteorological data, coupled with those of the networks
• Alerting local authorities in the event of a deterioration in water quality

Within the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis, the alluvial aquifer of the Bas Gapeau is threatened by saline intrusions. When underground freshwater supplies fall below a certain level, seawater rises inland and makes the water unsafe to drink.

At the request of the City of Hyères-les-Palmiers, we launched the "Aqua Renova" project aimed at improving the management of withdrawals from the territory's groundwater, and restoring the alluvial aquifer of Bas-Gapeau. This project is based on Controlled Aquifer Recharge (AMR), a technique inspired by natural processes, which consists of infiltrating fresh water at the surface during the winter, a period of high availability, in order to create a buffer zone between the aquifer and the sea.

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This method, combined with optimised groundwater management via the gradient technique, makes it possible to prevent the intrusion of salt water and to ensure the city's water autonomy, even in the event of drought.

Thanks to the "Aqua Renova" project and the recharge of the water table, the city of Hyères has regained a water autonomy of 88%.