irYs on the SNCF site, connected to 3 Mobitank tanks.

Home Projects Reuse of water from wastewater treatment plants for SNCF Réseau

France Reuse

Reuse of water from wastewater treatment plants for SNCF Réseau

Mission location

Nîmes, France

Project dates

Sept. to Oct. - 2025

Volume of water produced

456m³

Customer

SNCF Réseau

irYs on the SNCF site, connected to 3 Mobitank tanks.

Reuse of wastewater

From 02/09 to 10/10 2025, tests for the reuse of wastewater treatment plant (STEU) water took place at an SNCF site in Nîmes. This required the deployment of our containerized water treatment unit, the irYs ®.

An InovaYa technician checks the irYs installation on the SNCF réseau site in Nîmes.

SNCF Réseaua pioneer in the development of industrial WASTE in France, is spearheading this initiative, with the support of the corporate foundation FEREC. Water is a key resource for SNCF worksites: the tracks are sprinkled with drinking water or borehole water to fix suspended particles to the ground. On the one hand, this operation limits dust formation by improving the visibility of teams. Secondly, it reduces workers' exposure to certain potentially harmful substances.

To limit the use of drinking water, SNCF Réseau came up with the idea of experimenting with the reuse of water leaving a wastewater treatment plant. InovaYa's irYs ® modular treatment solution meets this need. As the water is not intended for human consumption, the shared objective is to obtain at least "A" grade water. The irYs ® is complemented by 40m³ Mobitank tanks.

  • an inlet tank for water leaving the WWTP
  • an outlet tank dedicated to backwashing (membranes, chemical cleaning)

In addition, a tank of treated water is installed for all analyses by the CTC sampler. The use of such a configuration is a first for InovaYa, and we're up to the challenge!

The InovaYa technical team opens the irYs to check that it is working properly.

Project summary

The irYs ® treatment unit treated 509m³ of raw water, producing 456m³ of treated water and 53m³ of wastewater. This represents an efficiency of 90%. The equivalent of 17 6x3m swimming pools!

Analyses carried out throughout the tests confirmed "A" grade water quality. This test could validate the opportunity for SNCF Réseau and its partners to reuse treated WWTP water for future worksites.

Bonus: the lowering of the detection threshold for the E. coli* parameter with the analysis laboratory with which we collaborate has enabled us to validate the conformity of the last 5 analyses to grade "A+", opening up the prospect of new uses in the event of favorable regulations.

*E.coli is short for Escherichia coli, an intestinal bacterium of warm-blooded organisms derived from contaminated organic matter.

Explanatory table for A+ and A grades :

Table summarizing the types of use authorized or not according to wastewater sanitary quality levels (here, from grade A to A+).
+ (Authorized)
- (Prohibited)
* (Possible by closing access to the public during use)
Sources

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/

Project stages and our involvement

  • Installation | August 4 to 7, 2025
    The carrier deposits the irYs under the supervision of InovaYa's technical teams.

    Installation of irYs ® and connection to Mobitank tanks.

  • Water supply | Sept. 2, 2025
    A tanker truck loads wastewater at the Nîmes WWTP.

    Departure of SAMAT's logistics rounds from the STEU to the SNCF Réseau Nîmes site and treatment of outlet water by irYs ®. Production is launched by our remote engineering teams and monitored by our project teams.

  • Trials | Sept. 2 to Oct. 10, 2025
    Focus on a finger pointing at graphical data.

    Initial tests are carried out, analyzed daily by our project team and the results transmitted to SNCF Réseau. A regular summary of the results is transmitted to monitor changes in treatment quality and efficiency parameters.

  • An electrical automation technician configures the site.
  • A technician opens the irYs electricity meter.
  • The tanker fills the irYs tanks.
  • Tank filled with treated water at the SNCF network site in Nîmes.
  • An InovaYa technician takes a break in front of the irYs at the SNCF réseau site in Nîmes.
Top view of a bridge maintained by SNCF réseau agents.

SNCF Réseau

Created in 2020, SNCF Réseau represents France's railway "backbone": it builds, maintains and ensures the smooth operation of railroad lines, as well as modernizing them. The aim is to ensure that trains run safely, smoothly and in line with the needs of today and tomorrow.

Read more
    An InovaYa technician explains how the irYs works to the SCNF network technical teams.
    To reduce our water footprint

    "Today, the reuse of treated wastewater is a major challenge for the sustainable management of water resources, particularly in the construction and infrastructure sectors. The test carried out with InovaYa on our Nîmes site is a key step: it enables us to experiment with new processes. For SNCF Réseau, it's a real source of satisfaction to be one of the forerunners in the development of REUT in France, in line with our raison d'être: to develop an ever more virtuous and environmentally-friendly railroad system.

    Marc-Axel Burette

    Head of the GC group in the Engineering Studies Department

    SNCF Réseau, Montpellier

Our other projects

Discover our other projects around the world that have led to more responsible water management and improved access to water resources. 

All projects
Contact us
InovaYa colleagues get together for a meeting.

Are you looking for a solution to optimize your water management? 

Entrust us with your problems and let our experts guide you.