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16.12.2013 14:47
© veolia.com
French company Veolia Environnement celebrated its 160th anniversary on December 14, 2013.
Founded at the dawn of the industrial era and the start of urban development, Veolia Environnement has continually developed as provider of integrated public services and related technology over the past 160 years.
Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) was created on December 14, 1853 by imperial decree. Its founders had two goals: to irrigate the countryside and supply water to French towns and cities. The first contract was to supply water to Lyon. Just seven years later, the company was awarded a 50-year concession to supply water to Paris.
In 1880 the company set foot outside France for the first time when an agreement gave CGE water production and distribution rights in Venice. Constantinople followed suit in 1882 and Porto in 1883. CGE first extended its capabilities to wastewater treatment in 1884, in Reims.
In the 20th century spending on research and development rose steadily throughout the 20th century, eventually leading to the creation of the Water Research Center, Energy and Waste Management Research Center and Transportation Research Center. Ozone was used as a substitute of chlorine for water treatment for the first time in 1909. By its 100th anniversera in 1953, CGE was supplying water to 8 million people in France and also working on central heating, waste management and automotive production.
In 1999 the company took the name Vivendi Environnement, consolidating all environmental services activities. It encompassed Vivendi Water (Water), Onyx (Waste Management), Dalkia (Energy) and Connex (Transportation).
By December 2002, Vivendi Universal's holdings in Vivendi Environnement had been reduced to 20.4%, effectively making Veolia Environnement an independent company.
The company changed its name to Veolia Environnement in 2003.
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