Since June 28, 2024, the Haliotis station has been using treated wastewater to irrigate parks in Nice. The green spaces in the western part of the city, municipal road cleaning, and network hydro-cleaning are concerned.
This is the largest industrial project in wastewater treatment in France. After nearly 700 million euros financed by the region, the city of Nice, with the Haliotis station, uses treated wastewater to water parks and clean the roads. This reuse of treated wastewater (R.E.U.T) follows the decree by Élisabeth Borne in 2023.
Safe Water
The treated wastewater used poses no danger, even though it is not drinkable. Several steps are needed to treat the water, even after treatment by the station, so it can be reused. First, a three-part filtration is performed. Then, there is ultrafiltration that recovers all bacteria and some viruses, followed by ultraviolet treatment, ensuring the destruction of any residual viruses. Finally, purification is carried out. In total, there are forty-two different parameters to analyze the reused wastewater. “Ten in bacteriology, twelve in physicochemistry, seven in virology, and thirteen on micropollutants” specifies Hervé Paul, President of the Water and Sanitation Management of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis.
Since last year, no fewer than 10,500 analyses have been conducted to ensure this water is of excellent quality. In Nice, there are two water networks: the drinking water supply network and the raw water supply network. But the two networks never mix.
A Larger-Scale Project
With this European standard A project, no less than 10 cubic meters per hour of usable water is produced. Christian Estrosi thus highlights the long-term conservation of natural resources that this project will achieve. Starting June 28, 2024, trucks use treated wastewater to water trees and clean the streets in the western part of the city. The mayor assures, “within 2 to 3 years, the entire city of Nice will operate with this treated wastewater.” From September onwards, this system will water the entire Parc Phoenix.
The city was losing significant amounts of water due to leaks caused by poor pipe conditions. Since the arrival of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis Water and Sanitation Management, a convention with the Water Agency has been signed so that by 2026-2027, Nice becomes a zero leak water metropolis. With the modernization of the Haliotis 2 station, the direct reuse of wastewater will be operational by the end of 2028 to save 5 million cubic meters of water per year.