Dealing with the chronic degradation to resources
Assisting and making stakeholders aware
Aware of the chronic degradation to resources, Veolia Water provides on the ground assistance and awareness initiatives and also takes positive action:
- with farmers to make them more aware and assist them in managing their irrigation needs better ;
- by running support operations ;
- by carrying out initiatives which record and monitor toxic elements in water resources ;
- by helping local authorities to reduce the level of nitrates and pesticides in water resources and to maintain the quality of aquatic environments.
Combatting the risks of rainwater pollution
Actiflo™ rainwater at Achères, France
In France, the re-establishing of surface waters (rivers, lakes, etc.) has been ongoing since the passing of the first laws in 1964. These made it obligatory to treat wastewater before it was released back into the natural environment. This was later followed by the passing of laws in 1976 which dealt with industrial effluents.
Pollution has since fallen and water-based activities have grown.
However particularly heavy rainfall can lead to sewers and wastewater facilities being overrun and this can pose a major challenge.
It can easily lead to water becoming seriously contaminated endangering aquatic flora and fauna as well as water-based activities.
By operating customers' wastewater systems Veolia Water is involved in protecting drinking water resources. It provides solutions to prevent and combat contamination by stopping industrial waste reaching aquifers and by limiting pollution from run off.