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WATER COOPERATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND POVERTY ERADICATIONImage: Suez Environnement, Krista BoggsSuez Environnement works closely with SEAAL workers to improve their skillshave been made to Algiers’ water and wastewater services accordingto international standards.Since 2010, thanks to the joint efforts of the state, whichinvested in new infrastructures (conventional and non-conventionalwater resources, wastewater treatment plants, new pipingand main sewers), Suez Environnement and SEAAL, whichimproved service management and the efficiency of pre-existinginfrastructures, 100 per cent of the water that is distributedis drinkable and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,compared to just 8 per cent of water in 2006. 143,000 leaks wererepaired, 231 km of pipes were replaced and 330,000 metres wereinstalled. All leaks are now repaired within two days compared toan average of 4.2 days in 2006. Water quality has also been dealtwith. Since 2008, water bacteria levels have not exceeded industryguidelines. The number of customers in Algiers increasedfrom 422,000 in 2006 to 558,000 in 2012. Around 250,000telephone calls per year are processed in SEAAL’s Call Center,which is open 24/7. 85 per cent of customers are satisfied withthe service.In addition to supplying all inhabitants with drinking water,the public-private partnership has also focused on improvingwastewater treatment. Today, 53 per cent of the wastewater of theWilaya of Algiers is now treated as opposed to just six per cent in2006. Since the project started, 3,574 km of wastewater sewershave been cleared and 225 km have been renovated. In addition,67 of Algiers’ 72 beaches are now approved for bathing, comparedto 39 in 2006.The project is also proving to be financially successful: SEAALhas kept to its business plan and is already making substantialcost savings.The Algerian authorities’ confidence in SuezEnvironnement was proven in 2011 when they extendedtheir agreement with the company for a further five yearsuntil 2016. This new contract involves making furtherimprovements to the water and wastewater treatmentservices available to the 600,000 inhabitants of the Wilayaof Tipaza, located west of Algiers. In addition to replicatingthe results already achieved in Algiers, the contract alsosets out to ensure the sustainable autonomy of SEAAL.Cooperation is a key success factorThe close collaboration between Algiers authorities andSuez Environnement was fundamental to the successof this project. It highlights the importance of settingobjectives, creating action plans and making decisionsin a collaborative manner. Suez Environnement’s abilityto formulate an overall strategy to improve servicelevels, as well as strengthen the local infrastructure toensure sustainable progress, was also key.Suez Environnement is committed to helping itscustomers achieve their objectives and find the idealsolution tailored to their specific concerns. Thecompany’s vision is to bring new solutions to marketto help customers deal with increasingly complexenvironmental problems. Working with others, SuezEnvironnement aims to stimulate creativity andencourage the emergence of new ideas. The result:innovative water management solutions that providesignificant economic and environmental benefits, andsustainable results.[ 236 ]