The Albères-Côte Vermeille-Illibéris Community of Municipalities (CCACVI) and Veolia have commenced work on a treated wastewater reuse project in Argelès-sur-Mer. The facility aims to reuse 1.3 million cubic meters of treated wastewater each year, an amount comparable to five months of the area’s potable water consumption.
Scheduled to become operational in April 2026, the project is the first to receive support from France’s hydraulic fund. It is designed to address increasing water resource challenges in the Eastern Pyrenees, which have become more pronounced since May 2022.
Veolia has been selected by the local authority to implement the project. The company plans to install a membrane ultrafiltration system to meet Category A water quality standards, the highest level under French regulations. The treated water will be used for drip irrigation over approximately 700 hectares of agricultural land, mainly fruit orchards, helping to reduce reliance on groundwater and drinking water sources.
Scheduled to become operational in April 2026, the project is the first to receive support from France’s hydraulic fund
This initiative is currently the largest planned treated wastewater reuse project in France. It seeks to balance the region’s water needs across agriculture, residential use, and tourism, particularly during the summer season. The project also represents a localized effort to adapt to climate-related pressures through water reuse and resource management.
"This flagship 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. Thanks to our unique technological expertise, we are now able to help communities move towards more resilient water resource management," said Sandra Andreu, CEO of Veolia’s municipal water technologies activities in France.
"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. To meet these challenges, we have chosen the best. All project partners are fully aligned with this dynamic approach combining environmental and technological ambition," said Antoine Parra, President of the Albères-Côte Vermeille-Illibéris Community of Municipalities.
