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1853

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An Imperial decree establishes the CGE (Compagnie Générale des Eaux).

1867

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Etablissements Grandjouan founded in Nantes

1875

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The Bordeaux CGFTE (Compagnie Générale Française de Transports et d'Entreprises) trolley

1880

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Venice

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1853-1900

History of Veolia Environnement

1853

Founding of Compagnie Générale des Eaux

Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) was created on December 14, 1853 by imperial decree. Its founders had two goals: to irrigate the countryside and supply water to towns and cities. The first contract was to supply water to Lyon. Just seven years later, the company was awarded a 50-year concession to supply water to Paris.

1867

Founding of Grandjouan and Soulier

Francois Grandjouan won a contract with the municipality of Nantes to “clear the streets of sewage and waste and convert the latter into mature.”
In 1870, Soulier Brothers set up a business in Rouen and Chauny to collect, buy and sell old rags and paper. Both businesses merged with CGE, in 1980 and 1990 respectively.

1875

Founding of Compagnie Générale Française de Tramways

Founding of Compagnie Générale Française de Tramways (CGFT). The style of city planning introduced by Baron Haussmann revolutionized urban transportation, triggering a boom in a new mode of transportation, the horse-drawn tram, to offset a shortage of horse omnibuses.
CGFT operated its first tramway (light rail) in Le Havre, Nancy and Marseille. The company merged with CGE in 1980.

1880

Venice: The first success outside France

Venice: first success outside France. An agreement gave CGE water production and distribution rights in Venice.
Constantinople (Istanbul) followed suit in 1882 and Porto in 1883. CGE first extended its capabilities to wastewater treatment in 1884, in Reims.