Water reuse – a “concrete and ambitious” response to drought in France

First fund recipient address shortages in the Pyrenees

As the first recipient of the French government’s hydraulic fund, the Argelès-sur-Mer project will enable the use of 1.3 million cubic metres of treated wastewater annually, helping to address resource pressures that have been increasing in the eastern Pyrenees for a number of years. At the time of conception, it was the largest plant of its kind in France.

Due to begin operation in 2026, the plant will produce the equivalent of five months of potable water consumption. The project will be implemented by Albères-Côte Vermeille-Illibéris Community of Municipalities (CCACVI) and Veolia.

Antoine Parra, president of the Albères-Côte Vermeille-Illibéris Community of Municipalities, told local media: “Wastewater reuse represents a concrete and ambitious response to the drought affecting our region. This project is essential for preserving our water resources and securing the future of agriculture in our territory.”

Of working with Veolia, Parra added: “To meet these challenges, we have chosen the best. All project partners are fully aligned with this dynamic approach combining environmental and technological ambition.”

 

Treating water for reuse in Argelès-sur-Mer

Veolia will use what it describes as an innovative membrane ultrafiltration solution to achieve Category A water quality, the highest standard under French regulations.

The recycled water will be used to supply drip irrigation across nearly 700 hectares of farmland, primarily fruit orchards. This will help to preserve groundwater and drinking water supplies in the region, improving water security, especially during the summer months when rising demand from tourism competes with agriculture and residential use.

Sandra Andreu, CEO of Veolia’s municipal water technologies activities in France, told media: “This project perfectly illustrates our ability to support local authorities in their ecological transformation through innovative and sustainable solutions. This is the essence of our GreenUp strategic plan: harnessing innovation to fight climate change by depolluting and reusing resources, thus preserving precious freshwater sources.”

 

National plans for increased water reuse in France

In 2023, the French government highlighted water reuse from treatment plants as a key component in its plans for the sustainable and resilient management of water resources.

53 Mesures Pour L’Eau cited a scientific study by Explore2070, which indicated that by 2050, the average annual flow rates of rivers in the mainland are expected to decrease by 10 to 40 per cent, and extreme events such as droughts and floods are likely to be more intense. The country suffered periods of drought in 2022 (summer) and 2023 (winter), which depleted groundwater reserves, with 110 basins experiencing ‘structural tensions’. 

As the report made clear, there is a pressing need to address increasing levels of water stress. The plan aims to develop 1,000 reuse projects by 2027. This would increase the reuse rate of treated wastewater from one per cent to 10 per cent; a tenfold increase. This water would be used, as in the Argelès-sur-Mer project, for agricultural irrigation. It will also be used for street cleaning and fire-fighting purposes.