What you must know about Valcros' water purification station

Information meeting for the menbers of the « association syndicat libre» (1), « syndicat du Domaine de Valcros»(2), and «Valcros Rive Droite»(3).
October, 28th, 2006.

The main informations to remenber about the water purification service are the following:

• The installation for the water purification has a capacity for 6000 inhabitants (and a potential for 12000), including a network of collecting pipes of

35 Km

. Its purification station treats 70000m3 of dirty water every year.

• The whole setting includes a network of collecting pipes, auxiliary pumping stations, a physico chemical purification unit and a biological treatment for refining in the lake “

La Galline

” (this water is kept for watering the golf course).

• Some technical transformations are necessary: auto supervision system that conforms to the regulation, (cost: 36500€ in June 2001) and ultraviolet treatment to improve the quality of the pathogenic bacteria rejects (cost: 20000€).

• The leasing contract has been denounced by “Domaine de Valcros Ltd” and the “Domaine SDV” on May 16^th, 2006, with expiring date on July 1^st, 2007. The actual holder of the lease is “VEOLIA” (formerly “CGE”).

• The station of purification belongs to “Domaine de Valcros Ltd”. The ASL is in charge of the maintenance of the station and the all network, being its user.

• The total cost of water (including distribution and purification) is of 6.29 €/m3. That is to say 115% more compared to the cost of the water treated by the village of

La Londe

, and 337% compared to the purification treatment. The cost of the distribution is the same as for the village. A benefit of 17% added to VEOLIA turnover, plus a VAT of 14.1% (VAT 14.1% = 19.60% (VAT of VEOLIA) – 5.5% (VAT of the district of

La Londe

).are increasing the final price.

• The patrimony of the ASL sum up to 5 M€ (not including the assets of the station whose building value was estimated at 1.6 M€ in 1991).

• An additional charge has been added to the cost of water since 1994 and has allowed to raise 150000€. However, the communal deposit account planned for special works has a credit of 31000€ in 2006.

• The statement of accounts of the year 2005 shows that there are not enough funds to face the renewal of the setting. The subscription of the co-owners of Valcros should be increased from 10 000€ to 150 000€ for several years (150€ per house).

• To conclude, the organisation ASL of Valcros has not the human competences required to manage efficiently such important financial issues (network and setting for rain water and purification).

• The future of the actual leasing contract:

There are two options, on one side, enter into new negotiation with VEOLIA or advertise for a new bid. On the other side (the most profitable for the users): transfer the maintenance of the installation to the district of La Londe.

Notes:

Note 1: ASL,

Note 2: SDV,

Note 3: VRD