SAUR
Saur is a french group with 12 000 people all over the world.
ID: 986614496632-89
Lobbying Activity
Response to New European Bauhaus
17 Oct 2025
SAUR, a key player in water services (municipal and industrial), supports the European Commission's initiative to present a New European Bauhaus. As pressures on water resources intensify due to climate change, pollution, and demographic shifts, Saur advocates for a transversal approach that fully integrates the housing sector. To achieve the European Commissions goal set out in the Water Resilience Strategy of enhancing water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030, it will be critical to address water consumption in buildings and strengthen circularity. In a circular approach, buildings can be seen not only as a water consumption unit but also as a source for savings. The New European Bauhaus represents a key opportunity to improve the hydric performance of buildings and foster water reuse in the housing sector. This approach offers multiple benefits: preserving water resources, particularly in water-stressed areas, building resilience to climate change in cities and communities, and improving the purchasing power of European citizens. A wide range of proven and reliable solutions already exists to tackle this challenge, leveraging everything from water use sobriety to resource optimization. Increasing water circularity will be decisive for long-term water sustainability, accelerating innovative reuse solutions for greywater and wastewater in the built environment. When collected and treated properly, these water sources can be used for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation, or cooling. The installation of decentralized treatment systems in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings allows to reuse up to 45% of water in buildings. In conclusion, SAUR strongly supports an ambitious New European Bauhaus as a unique opportunity to enhance the hydric performance of buildings and promote sustainable, affordable housing for all.
Read full responseResponse to European climate resilience and risk management law
2 Sept 2025
SAUR, a key player in water services, fully supports the European Commissions initiative on climate resilience and risk management. As pressures on water resources intensify due to climate change, pollution, and demographic shifts, SAUR advocates for an integrated, forward-looking strategy that aligns with the Water Resilience Initiative. Our contribution is structured around three key priorities: 1.Strengthening drought knowledge and monitoring. Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe across Europe, making prevention and anticipation crucial. Ensuring that public authorities and water operators have access to real-time, reliable data is essential for managing scarcity. Tools like InfoSecheresse.fr, a public platform managed by SAURs subsidiary IMAGEAU, provide open-access drought intelligence to support informed decisions by citizens, local governments, and industries. Practical experience in several French territories shows that anticipatory managementrooted in data and collaborationcan safeguard resources and improve resilience. 2.Promoting water circularity and reuse. Long-term water sustainability requires accelerating innovative reuse solutions for greywater and wastewater across sectors. The built environment presents a major opportunity to implement decentralized treatment systems. SAURs subsidiary ODALIE developed the Aquapod, a miniaturized treatment system tailored for residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. By encouraging local reuse and reducing consumption, these solutions help mitigate water stress and empower individuals to act responsibly. 3.Deploying mobile water solutions for emergency resilience. Extreme weather events, infrastructure breakdowns, and rising climate vulnerability demand flexible and rapid-response tools. SAUR operates containerized and modular water treatment unitsincluding reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration systemsthat restore operations quickly, especially in industrial sites at risk of disruption. These mobile services ensure continuity while minimizing economic and environmental impact. Their strategic value is even greater in insular and remote areas with fragile infrastructure, where they offer vital access to drinking water during outages or peak stress periods. SAUR is convinced that mobile water treatment is a key pillar of climate resilience, and should be integrating into emergency planning frameworks. Its deployment should be support through EU funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships. In conclusion, SAUR calls for an ambitious and inclusive European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Plan, grounded in innovation, collaboration, and local empowerment to enhance the resilience of European water systems. SAUR also encourages the evolution of regulatory frameworks to accelerate the deployment of water reuse systems, especially in newly constructed buildings. Mandating decentralized water recycling infrastructure in residential, commercial, and institutional developments is a necessary step toward mitigating water stress and strengthening Europes long-term resilience.
Read full responseMeeting with Paula Duarte Gaspar (Head of Unit Environment)
4 Jul 2025 · SAUR requested a meeting to present their activities in water services and wanted to discuss some aspects of the Water Resilience Strategy.
Response to European Water Resilience Strategy
4 Mar 2025
SAUR, a key player in water services (municipal and industrial), supports the European Commission's initiative to develop a Water Resilience Strategy. Given the increasing pressures on water resources due to climate change, pollution, and demographic changes, SAUR emphasizes the need for a strategic, integrated, and forward-looking approach. The contribution is structured around three key priorities. Firstly, recognizing water cycle disruptions and strengthening integrated water governance is essential. Water resilience requires considering the full water cycle, from resource management to final use and return to the environment. Changes in precipitation patterns, increased droughts and floods, and ecosystem disruptions necessitate a coordinated water management strategy. The subject of water cannot be conceived all things being equal. The water cycle implies the interconnection of European policies (industry, circular economy, agriculture, restoration of nature etc). Moreover, to ensure that water is of sufficient quality and quantity, it is essential to share competencies and ensure that all stakeholders work together. Secondly, modernizing water infrastructures and establishing clear regulatory targets is crucial. Climate change and emerging pollutants require massive modernization of water infrastructures. Investments in network renewal, leak detection, smart networks, advanced treatment technologies, and nature-based solutions are essential. The EU should establish quantitative objectives for water savings, efficiency, reuse, and pollution reduction, similar to packaging waste regulations. Applying the polluter-pays principle is crucial to ensure that industries responsible for emerging pollutants contribute to the cost of their mitigation, the burden of pollution management should not fall solely on public water utilities and citizens. Decentralized solutions as reuse systems in buildings for example should be encouraged when it makes sense from an economic and environmental point of view. Lastly, promoting innovation and protecting the European water industry is vital. The European water sector is a global leader in innovative technologies, from digital monitoring to circular water reuse and energy-efficient treatment processes. The EU Water Resilience Strategy should promote innovation in water treatment, monitoring, and reuse through dedicated research programs. Investing in water innovation will enhance Europe's resilience, create economic opportunities, and support the green transition. In conclusion, SAUR strongly supports an ambitious and forward-looking EU Water Resilience Strategy that integrates a holistic approach and which infuses other european initiatives such as the clean industrial deal and the many other European regulations. By establishing clear objectives, strong and shared governance, and supporting Europe's water industry, the EU can ensure long-term sustainability and security of water resources for all.
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