The history of water in Paris

The story of Eau de Paris is that of a strong choice by the City of Paris: that of direct and public management of water by a single industrial and commercial operator. But it is also and above all the history of water, from Lutèce to Paris: that of a city crossed by the Seine, which quickly became a center of political power, which endowed itself with a heritage beyond of the common adapted to the evolution of the territory and the Parisian population over the centuries.

Whatever country you are in, when you need water, the first question you ask yourself is this: where is there a source?

Georges Eugene Haussmann

Prefect of the Seine from 1853 to 1870

Water in Paris: a foray into history

16th century

The 350 Parisians do not benefit from quality water.

1613

Marie de Médicis had the Medici Aqueduct built to supply public fountains on the left bank and the gardens of the Luxembourg Palace.

1860

The Council of Paris votes a vast program, carried by Haussmann, of water supply of Paris and evacuation of waste water.

1867

Eugène Belgrand is appointed Director of the water service and begins titanic works, including the construction of aqueducts.

1893

Construction of the Avre aqueduct began in June 1891 and was completed in March 1893.

1900

Construction of the Loing aqueduct began in 1897 and was completed in 1900, in addition to the Vanne aqueduct.

1925

The Voulzie aqueduct, built in 1925, is a drinking water transport pipeline that is part of the Paris drinking water supply network.

1984

In 1984, the City of Paris privatized the distribution of water in Paris.

1987

In February 1987, the production of drinking water was entrusted to a mixed economy company: SAGEP

2005

On January 1, 2005, SAGEP took the name of Eau de Paris!

2008

On November 24, 2008, the Council of Paris decided to remunicipalise the water service.

2010

Eau de Paris becomes the municipal operator of the public water service in the capital, in charge of production, transport and distribution.

From antiquity

The Seine is at the heart of the capital. Paris was born and developed thanks to water. Water and the Seine have given Paris its motto "Fluctuat NEC mergitur" and his coat of arms with the boat of the Nautes.

The left bank of the Seine is the heart of the ancient city of Lutèce. The water is first drawn from the river. At IIe century AD, an aqueduct was built. This is the city's first water supply structure. 16 km long, it transports the water captured on the Wissous and Rungis plateaus to the foot of the Sainte-Geneviève mountain. The aqueduct was used for more than 500 years. Then it fell victim to the lack of maintenance following the barbarian invasions.

Reconstruction of Lutèce, the Gallo-Roman aqueduct of Arcueil. Drawing, Paris, Carnavalet museum | ©Carnavalet Museum / Roger-Viollet

In the Middle Ages, water from the Sources du Nord

In the Middle Ages, the religious congregations of Paris were rich and powerful. Installed far from the Seine, their water needs are significant, especially since they often provide reception services for sick people. As pious works, the religious communities will finance new aqueducts intended to supply the abbeys but also some public fountains.

During the XIIe century, is built what is called the " northern springs “: a network of aqueducts intended to divert the water collected on the hills of the North-East of Paris (Belleville, Pré Saint-Gervais).

Look of the Lantern, Paris 19th | ©Water of Paris

The Renaissance of the aqueduct

At the end of the XVIe century, Paris grew anarchically. The 350 Parisians do not benefit from quality water. During the reign of Henri IV, attempts were made to restore the Roman aqueduct of Lutèce. But its reuse is ultimately impossible because it is too degraded. In 000, the regent Marie de Médicis had the Medici Aqueduct built to supply public fountains on the left bank and the gardens of her Luxembourg Palace. But until the 1613th century, water in Paris was essentially drawn directly from the Seine.

Medici Aqueduct | ©Water of Paris

The XIXe century, the century of great works

Imagined at 19e century and still in service, the Paris water supply system bears witness to the intelligence of the titanic work carried out by Eugene Belgrand under Napoleon III.

Between 1836 and 1866, Paris grew from 1 to 2 million inhabitants. In 1860, the Council of Paris voted on a vast program for the supply of water to Paris and the evacuation of waste water. This project is led by Georges Eugene Haussmann, then prefect of the Seine. The engineer Eugène Belgrand is appointed director of the water service.

He then undertook major works to develop and modernize the capital's water network. Its objective: to provide Parisians with high quality water. These titanic works are at the origin of a large part of the heritage still managed today by Eau de Paris. It was decided to capture sources far from Paris, up to 150 km beyond the capital. The water will be transported to the gates of Paris by two aqueducts: the Dhuys (1863-1865) and the Vanne (1866-1874).

After the death of Eugène Belgrand, three other aqueducts were built, which still carry half of the drinking water consumption of Parisians today: the Avre (1890-1893), the Loing (1897-1900 ) and la Voulzie, whose work will not be completed until after the war, in 1925. 

Photo of the source of Erigny
Source d'Erigny after collection, sources de la Vigne, 1893 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of the Voulzie aqueduct
Passage of the Voulzie aqueduct in Champagne sur Marne
Photo of the Montmartre reservoir
Construction of the Montmartre reservoir 1860
Photo of the reservoirs of Montsouris
Construction of the Montsouris reservoirs, receiving water from the Vanne, Loing and Lunain, Paris (14th arrondissement), circa 1870 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of the construction of the Vanne aqueduct bridge
Construction of the Vanne aqueduct above the Pont Aqueduc Médicis, Arcueil, around 1870 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of work on the Loing aqueduct
Doubling of the siphons of the Loing aqueduct, Bièvre siphon, circa 1900 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of pipe laying in trench of the Voulzie aqueduct
Laying pipes in a trench, construction of the Voulzie aqueduct, 1924 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of a water carrier in Montmartre
Water carrier in front of the Lapin Agile cabaret in Montmartre | ©Albert Harlingue/ Roger-Viollet

Paris, around 1910

photo of Parisians around a fountain
Parisians during a heat wave, Paris, June 1914 | ©Maurice-Louis Branger / Roger-Viollet
Photo of the Seine flood
Seine flood | ©Neurdein / Roger-Viollet

Paris, avenue Ledru-Rollin, January 1910

 

Photo of the driving wheel of Chigy
Driving wheel, Chigy factory, Sens region (Yonne), 1931 | ©Water of Paris
Photo of the Longueville workshop
Longueville workshop (77) 1949 | ©

The XXe century, between public and private management

Until 1985, the production and distribution of water in Paris was managed by a municipal service. Only the commercial management was delegated to the General Water Company (CGE). In 1984, the City of Paris privatized the distribution of water in Paris. Compagnie des Eaux de Paris, a subsidiary of the Veolia group, takes care of the right bank. Eau et Force Parisienne des Eaux, a subsidiary of the Suez group, manages the left bank.

In February 1987, the production of drinking water is entrusted to a mixed economy company. This is the creation of the Société Anonyme de Gestion des Eaux de Paris (SAGEP). The capital is 70% owned by the City of Paris, 14% by Lyonnaise des Eaux, 14% by Compagnie Générale des Eaux and 2% by municipal companies. 1er January 2005, SAGEP takes the name of Eau de Paris!

To public water

Ln November 24, 2008, the Council of Paris decided to remunicipalise the water service. For this purpose, it creates a public establishment of an industrial and commercial nature (EPIC).

By taking this decision, the City of Paris wanted to affirm that thehe management of water, a common good of humanity, should remain a public affair. This approach is part of a general movement in France to return to public management of water services.

Eau de Paris has the central mission ofprovide Parisians with quality water at the right price, while guaranteeing a high level of performance. The problems of water management in Paris are now part of the long term in technical as well as social and environmental considerations.

In May 2009, Eau de Paris, a new industrial and commercial public institution, took over the production and transport of water. En January 2010, Eau de Paris became the municipal operator of the public water service in the capital, also ensuring the distribution. 1er March 2017, Eau de Paris became the sole external fire protection service provider (DECI) in Paris. In 2020, Eau de Paris is launching its aid scheme for farmers. This is a first for a water operator in France.

The historical heritage of Eau de Paris

Eau de Paname - Aqueduct of Arcueil - episode 1

Eau de Paname - Aqueduct of Arcueil - episode 1

We are going to discover the secrets of the waters of Paname and today with Frédéric we will be interested in an essential element, the proper functioning of the waters of the capital.

So there we take the direction of Ile-de-France, more precisely Arcueil-Cachan where we will discover the great story but I say the great story with a capital h of the water of Paris.

The big story! Yes! 

Overlooking the houses and gardens stand 77 millstone archways 38 meters high, forming an imposing testimony to history: the Vanne aqueduct. More than 150 km long, the aqueduct is intended to supply Paris with water from sources captured in the Sens region. It is in fact made up of three superimposed aqueducts: the first dates from the Gallo-Roman era and will end near the Cluny thermal baths designed at the same time. It was then used to transport water from the Rungis plateau to the center of Lutèce. The second, the Medici aqueduct, the work of which was commissioned by Henri IV and then taken over by Marie de Médicis, allowed water to be carried to the Luxembourg Palace. Finally, the third aqueduct located just above the Medici aqueduct was erected by the engineer Eugène Belgrand in 1874 to bring water to the Montsouris reservoir. The Arcueil Cachan aqueduct bridge impresses with its height and has been watching over the neighboring towns for almost 150 years. For more than nineteen centuries now, the aqueducts have continued to transport drinking water to Paris and thus supply the reservoirs, inhabitants and fountains of the capital. This aqueduct that we have just seen on the images is still a service and it allows to carry to the capital about 140 thousand cubic meters of drinking water every day. Yes Frédéric and know that in Ile-de-France and beyond Normandy and Burgundy it is not less than 470 km of aqueducts which convey underground water and that without any expenditure of energy.

Come on, see you very soon for another beautiful story of Eau de Paname!

Eau de Paname: the Buttes de Chaumont waterfalls - episode 2

Eau de Paname: the Buttes de Chaumont waterfalls - episode 2

Frédéric, I am delighted to meet you in this magnificent park of the Buttes Chaumont for another great story of Eau de Paname. 

 And how ! In one of the most beautiful parks in the capital, we are in the 19th arrondissement.

You promised me to take a dip but where is the water? it sucks, look.

In this park in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, the 5th largest green space in the capital, is the hill of Mont Chauve. This is what the Parc des Buttes Chaumont was called in the 17th century, which is located on former gypsum quarries, once infamous and unhealthy. Anxious to offer workers a place of tranquility and greenery, Napoleon commissioned this green space from Baron Haussmann and engineer Jean-Charles Alphand. From 1864, the quarries were developed, natural and artificial rock was mixed and a 2 hectare lake was created, fed by 3 streams. In the entrance to an underground quarry, an artificial cave is formed as plaster stones are extracted. In this romantic decor adorned with many fake stalactites that can be up to 8 meters long, there are several small waterfalls that titillate the calm waters of the lake. But here is the centerpiece of the place, the largest waterfall of the Buttes Chaumont which flows over 32 meters in height is fed by the non-drinking water network of Paris. 3 years of work, 1000 workers, a hundred horses and 800 m3 earthworks were needed to develop what would become the most beautiful public park of the second empire. 

Little additional information. This part of the Buttes Chaumont was officially inaugurated in 1867 on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in Paris. Yes, and know that the city of Paris has no less than 15 hectares of reservoirs which constitute a veritable ecological reserve where dozens of species can reproduce in peace.

Eau de Paname - Wallace Fountain - episode 3

Eau de Paname - Wallace Fountain - episode 3

Hello, I'm looking for a star for a new Eau de Paname story. But no, not you, she next door!

A star, but he's an icon! It's a Parisian monument that everyone knows very well, finally thinks they know, look. Today in Paris there are a multitude of water sources, streams and waterfalls in parks and gardens, many fountains around streets and squares, but the drinking water fountain emblematic of the streets of Paris is the Wallace Fountain. In 1870, Parisians suffered from a shortage of water, the price increased and many inhabitants found it impossible to find it for free. Sir Richard Wallace, a wealthy British philanthropist, donated 50 fountain models to the city, which will now bear his name. The first, installed in 1872, was a great success with Parisians who wanted to taste the water at the brasserie des quatre femmes, four cast iron caryatids representing the four virtues: kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety. They support a dome decorated with scales whose top is adorned with dolphins. The water flows in a thin trickle from the center of the dome and then falls into a basin. Art lovers, Richard Wallace imagines his model himself and chooses cast iron, a resistant material that is easy to produce. The locations of the fountains are chosen by the city as well as the color, a deep green like all the urban furniture of the time in order to be discreet and in harmony with the parks and the tree-lined paths.

Today the novelty in Paris are more than 15 sparkling water fountains installed throughout Paris.

The Wallace fountains are associated with the city of Paris and yet, do you know that there are some in other cities in France and even abroad in Spain, Canada and Brazil?

And in all in Paris, there are 1 public fountains and drinking water points accessible to everyone!

Eau de Paname - The looks of the Sources du Nord and the lantern in Belleville - episode 4

Eau de Paname - The looks of the Sources du Nord and the lantern in Belleville - episode 4

I sense you are worried Frederic!

Be careful !

Are you afraid I'm drowning? But tell me, how did we manage in the past to bring water to the capital without modern means?

Well, to understand this, we are taking you to Belleville to discover a mysterious, fascinating place, which has played a major role in the development of water in Paris.

On the heights of Belleville, the famous waters of Belleville have been exploited since the Middle Ages, which were used to supply the surrounding abbeys. In the 19th century, Paris built the great aqueduct of Belleville which allowed the waters of the hill to be led to the areas below to bring spring water to the population. In order to control the quality of the water from these sources and ensure the maintenance of the aqueduct, buildings with diverse architecture are built on the surface, called manholes and which provide access to the sources and provide ventilation. basement constant. Over time, some of these manholes have disappeared but others still exist, such as that of the Lanterne, rue Compans in the 14th arrondissement. Under its skylight and its stone dome, a double staircase and its wrought iron banisters lead us to the central basin and its oak floor. Built in the 1583th century, the Gaze de la Lanterne was destroyed by the wars then rebuilt between 1613 and 2. At the time, the Gaze de la Lanterne provided 2006 liters of water per day and per inhabitant. All these small monuments that still exist have been listed as historic monuments since 19 but have not supplied Paris with water since the XNUMXth century.

A big thank you to the enthusiasts of ASNEP, the association which manages these places and which offers tours all year round for the most curious.

Yes, know Frédéric that the average water expenditure for a Parisian family of four is a small euro per day. Come on, we'll see you very soon for another great story of eau de Paname.

I brought you 2 euros for two days of showering. Well, just give, go thank you goodbye! 

Eau de Paname - Passy reservoir - episode 5

Eau de Paname - Passy reservoir - episode 5

What is great in Paris is that you can pass by certain buildings without imagining for a single moment what is happening behind the walls. 

And we have proof! We take you somewhere in the 16th arrondissement.

At the corner of rue Copernic and rue Lauriston, thick concrete walls look like a fortress. On the other side of the walls, long fully vaulted tunnels more than six meters high reveal a maze of very narrow alleys and it is 55 meters above the level of the Seine that this place finally reveals its secret to us. . Here we are at the Passy reservoir, one of the main storage places for non-potable water in Paris. Three huge basins filled with water totaling 60 thousand cubic meters were built from 1858 and were used at the time to supply the fountains. Nine years of work were needed to connect them to the water of the Seine via the Auteuil factory. At the end of the 19th century with the scientific advances of Pasteur, the water drawn from these pumps was judged unfit for consumption and it was decided to separate the drinking and non-drinking water networks in Paris as we know them today. .

The first reservoir put into service in 1866, called Villejust, is approximately 3000 square meters in size. It is made up of two superimposed basins and closed by a slab covered with grass. The largest basin named Copernic Reservoir built in 1898 can store 22 thousand cubic meters of water, finally this space which represents an area of ​​13 thousand square meters located in the heart of the 16th arrondissement today constitutes a kind of artificial lake with a carefully maintained ecosystem is highly valued for safeguarding biodiversity.

These reservoirs are now used to supply the waterfalls in the Bois de Boulogne but also to clean the streets, the sewers and to water the parks and gardens throughout western Paris. And the use of this non-potable water is a tremendous environmental asset and above all it is good for the planet. 

Come on, we'll see you very soon for another beautiful story of water from Paname case what a planet.

What planet? You have lost your mind.

Eau de Paname - Albian well of the Butte-aux-Cailles - episode 6

Eau de Paname: Albian well in Butte-aux-Cailles - episode 6

 

Frédéric, my dear Frédéric, my good Frédéric, if there's one expression you should never say in Paris, it's “Fontaine, I won't drink your water”!

Once again you are right Ivan! Most Parisian fountains provide us with drinking water. There is even a quite exceptional one where people flock en masse to come and drink its water. Look at this topic, interesting.

For almost 20 years, people have sometimes come from very far to this small square in the 12th arrondissement to fill up their jerrycans and bottles. Because this rather special fountain is one of the three underground water points in Paris fed by the Albian water table. When first drilled, this well was artesian. This name designates a well from which water springs naturally or following a drilling and which owes its name to the monks of the abbey of Lillers, in Artois who discovered this phenomenon in 1126. In 1863, the prefect Haussmann authorized the drilling work which are between 600 and more than 700 meters deep under Paris in order to increase the flow of the Bièvre river but also to supplement the water needs of the 13th arrondissement. The Butte-aux-Cailles well was the first to be renovated and equipped with a brand new, more modern and tubular fountain which now stands in the middle of Place Paul Verlaine. But that's not all ! Out of sight, hidden in the basement of the fountain is a modern set of pumps and control systems allowing this ferruginous water to rise to the surface. Thanks to all these facilities, the Butte-aux-Cailles well continues to distribute free water much appreciated by Parisians, protected from all modern pollution. This underground installation makes it possible to remove the iron, which is too present in this water, and also to cool it for health reasons.

Know Frédéric that the daily production of drinking water in Paris amounts to half a million cubic meters.

Come on, see you very soon for another beautiful story of eau de Paname.

Are you sure of your number there? Well yes it was you who gave it to me!

Eau de Paname: the Montsouris reservoir - episode 7

Eau de Paname: the Montsouris reservoir - episode 7

Oh Frederick! Ivan! 

Have you ever wondered: Where does tap water come from? How is it transported here, for example? It's not magic. Oh no it's not magic! And agree with me Yvan that where we are taking you today is a fantastic place. 

In the 14th arrondissement, on one of the highest points in Paris, here is one of the capital's five main water storage reservoirs. 

The Montsouris reservoir, commissioned in 1974, is now used to supply drinking water to the entire center of Paris. Built to receive the water conveyed by the Vanne aqueduct, the Montsouris reservoir today receives the underground water brought to Paris by the Loing du Lunain and Voulzie aqueducts. This water gushes from the vertical pipes called tulips before being distributed in the various compartments of the reservoir. On the ceiling are the coat of arms of the city of Paris as well as the names of the sources which successively supplied it. Freshness and humidity keep the water at a spring temperature of 12°C. But the most spectacular view of Montsouris can be seen a few meters below. Here is the second tank with its 254 meters long and its 1800 masonry pillars that support the weight of the upper tank. When it arrives in Paris, this water has already traveled more than 100 km, protected from heat or cold, sheltered from light and any contamination. This place, highly secure, is now closed to all visits. 

 

The 4 compartments contain approximately 200 m3 drinking water. Yes, be aware that the Montsouris reservoir alone represents 30% of the water storage capacity of Paris.

Are you sure we say Montsouris and not "Masouris"? Do not make the pitcher go take a gorgeon. 

Eau de Paname: the Montmartre water tower - episode 8

Eau de Paname: the Montmartre water tower - episode 8

Frederick?

Yes Ivan!

I am a bit worried.

Oh ok but why?

Even a little lost.

Well tell me!

Yes because I do not understand how one can be supplied with drinking water when one lives on the heights of Paname. 

You're going to look at the subject in a moment because we're going to take you to the top of Paris, to a place that the inhabitants of Montmartre know well. 

Ah, that's better!

Visible for miles around from the top of its 43 meters, it is one of the major architectural elements of the famous district of Montmartre. Here is the water tower of the hill which was built in 1927, rue du Mont Cenis. Like the Montmartre reservoir, located a few meters away, it is white, in order to preserve the harmony of the district. Its facade decoration, in a neo-Byzantine architectural style, is similar to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Originally, the building only housed 2 drinking water tanks in its upper part, but in 1938, a third tank was built on the lower floor to store non-drinking water. The water tower has since had a storage capacity of 870 m3 of water. Drinking water supplies homes in the upper part of Montmartre as well as shops and drinking fountains located at an altitude of over 100 meters. Non-potable water is used for municipal services, watering parks and gardens and cleaning streets and sidewalks. 

The Château de Montmartre culminates at 175 meters above sea level, including the height of the hill, which makes it one of the highest monuments in the capital. 

Yes Frédéric, and know that in addition to the inhabitants of Montmartre, 8 out of 10 Parisians drink tap water daily, which makes about 3 million users. 

Come on, we'll see you very soon for another beautiful story of eau de Paname.

Eau de Paname: Bagatelle park - episode 9

Eau de Paname: Bagatelle park - episode 9

We continue our discovery of the waters of Paname and today we are going to go green my little Smurf.

Head to the 18th century. we're going to discover one of the four botanical gardens of the city of Paris, magnificent, it's bucolic, it's an extraordinary garden, look. 

In the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, this park owes its name to a former pavilion and place of licentiousness, that of Bagatelle. The garden of Bagatelle and the restoration of its small castle were born from a bet between Marie Antoinette and her brother-in-law the Count of Artois who had acquired the estate in 1775. He would have bet to build his estate there in just 2 months . The site plans were drawn in a few days by the architect Bélanger and with more than 900 workers who worked on this achievement. The challenge was taken up and the estate rose from the ground in 1777, barely 64 days later. Bagatelle narrowly escaped the destruction of the revolution and even if it has undergone several metamorphoses, it remains the ideal place for romantic walks in the middle of its rose garden and its park with British and Chinese influences. The park extends over 24 hectares, we still find there the rococo assortment very fashionable in the 18th century. Its pagoda which overhangs the rivers, its water mirrors which reflect its luxuriant nature, its caves but also its artificial waterfalls and its small bridges which accompany throughout the year and the seasons, the wanderings of thousands of visitors. 

This Bagatelle park regularly hosts exhibitions and classical music concerts, especially in summer. And this park is entirely supplied with non-potable water, which makes it possible to make serious savings in the resource. 

Come on, we'll see you very soon for another beautiful story of eau de Paname. 

Eau de Paname: the thermal baths of Cluny - episode 10

Eau de Paname: the thermal baths of Cluny - episode 10

What if we went back in time to the 2nd century to take a bath? Finally not really here Frédéric, we will leave this pretty lake to the ducks. 

Oh yes, especially since it's a pretty little corner. No, me, what I suggest is to dive into the heart of the 5th arrondissement of Paris, what am I saying, of Lutèce, look. 

Here are the Gallo-Roman thermal baths of Cluny, the most monumental ancient remains in northern Europe. At the time they extended over 6000 m2 administrative, religious and civil buildings as well as the largest public baths in the Gallo-Roman city. A deeply buried hydraulic system includes sewage systems and underfloor heating called a hypocaust. There is also the hot room, the caldarium, equipped with two partially preserved ovens which were used to heat the baths and the palestra dedicated to wrestling and physical exercises. Finally, the centerpiece of the place, the frigidarium. This monumental room gives an idea of ​​the technical prowess of Roman constructions of the time. Under its vault of edges which culminates at 14 meters in height and its swimming pool, one still partly distinguishes its original coatings in the pinkish hue and its reliefs depicting ships. After having carried out some physical exercises in the palestra, the bather crossed the frigidarium to reach the warmer rooms of the complex. Then followed the thermal course in which the bather cleaned his body.

Associated with pleasure and Roman citizenship, the principle of the thermal circuit is not based at all on bathing but rather on exposing the body to different air or water temperatures. 

But especially Frédéric, times have changed, it is strongly recommended to take a shower. You will consume 60 liters of water against 120 for a bath. It's simple to double. 

Come on, we'll see you very soon for another beautiful story of eau de Paname.

See also

Eau de Paris

Our governance

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Exhibition

Eau de Paris

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