Degrémont
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water treatment |
| Founded | 1939 in France |
| Founder | Gilbert Degrémont |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide (70 countries) |
| Products | Drinking water production, sewage and sludge treatment |
| Owner | Suez Environment |
Number of employees | 4600 (2010) |
| Parent | Suez Environment |
| Website | www |
Degrémont is a company dedicated to the production of drinking water and the treatment of sewage and sludge. Established in France in 1939, it now operates as a subsidiary of Suez Environment, employing 4,600 individuals across 70 countries and generating annual revenues of €1.520 billion (2010).
History
Degrémont was founded by Gilbert Degrémont near Paris, building upon the water treatment enterprise initiated by his father Emille in 1904. The company rapidly expanded its international footprint with projects in countries such as Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, and Peru. In 1972, it merged with SGEA to create Lyonnaise des Eaux, which later became part of the Suez Group. Today, it continues as a global subsidiary under Suez Environment. The family’s industrial heritage dates back to 1870 when Gilbert’s grandfather Adalbert established a mechanical engineering workshop, which Emile transformed into a water treatment business before Gilbert founded Degrémont.
Drinking water
Degrémont produces potable water from both groundwater and surface sources to serve markets ranging from developed to emerging economies. This includes desalination of seawater and brackish water for drinking or irrigation purposes. All produced water meets applicable local regulatory requirements.
Worldwide, the company has built approximately 3,000 drinking water facilities along with 250 desalination plants. Their technological portfolio encompasses sedimentation, flotation, media filtration, membrane ultrafiltration, ozone treatment, ultraviolet disinfection, and reverse osmosis applied to desalination processes.
Sewage and sludge treatment
Addressing the increasing urban demand for wastewater management, Degrémont employs a variety of physical, chemical, and biological methods including ozonization, membrane bioreactors, and sand filtration. The majority of treated wastewater is reused for irrigation or industrial cooling applications. To date, the company has developed 2,500 sewage treatment plants capable of processing 2.4 million cubic meters daily.
In sludge management, emphasis is placed on reducing volume and promoting reuse primarily in agriculture through processes such as digestion, incineration, thickening, dewatering, and drying. These techniques also facilitate the recovery of biogas for energy generation.
Activities
Degrémont provides services impacting around one billion people through its network of 10,000 facilities globally, including 3,000 drinking water plants and 2,500 urban wastewater treatment stations. Its operational models include:
- The design, financing, and construction of drinking water production units as well as sewage and sludge treatment plants, including reverse osmosis desalination systems.
- Facility operation under contractual agreements with public or private sector clients.
- Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contracts where Degrémont finances and manages facilities for periods up to 25 years before transferring ownership.
- Supplying equipment to facilities owned or managed by third parties.
Company culture
Since 1951, Degrémont has published The Water Treatment Handbook, which consolidates its expertise in water chemistry and treatment technologies. This handbook has been released in 10 French editions and 7 English editions and is available in ten languages. The company encourages managerial participation in international conferences to demonstrate its technological capabilities.
Degrémont has earned GoodCorporation certification in recognition of its responsible practices encompassing employee relations, customer service quality, supplier management standards, shareholder communication, environmental responsibility, and community engagement.
R&D
In 2010, Degrémont dedicated €13.5 million to research and development activities and has secured more than 500 patents since its founding. Current initiatives focus primarily on improving the energy efficiency of treatment plants and progressing ultrafiltration membrane technology.