Minister of State HE Mr Serge Telle and Mrs. Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Government Counselor-Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning, visited the Vaulabelle and Testimonio springs on Friday, July 8.
They were accompanied by a delegation composed, among others, of Mr. Olivier Grunberg, Deputy Managing Director in charge of the General Secretariat of Veolia Eau France and Chairman of the Monaco water company, Monégasque Des Eaux (SMEaux), Mr. Manuel Nardi, General Manager of SMEaux , Mr. Jean-Luc Puyo, Director of Urban Development, members of the Public Works Department and representatives of the Marzocco Group, the operator of the Testimonio project.
The delegation visited the Vaulabelle spring, then moved to the Testimonio II site for a visit to the tunnel under construction that will ultimately capture the water for Testimonio.
This visit marked the importance for the Government of the preservation of the Testimonio spring, which is the largest local drinking water resource in the Principality.
For the record, the six natural water sources for the Principality – Ingram, Testimonio, Marie, Vaulabelle, North Well, and Alice – provide between 30 and 50 percent of annual consumption.
The water, stored in the seven reservoirs of the Principality, feeds the distribution network that serves the entire territory, carrying five million cubic metres per year.
SMEaux ensures local supplies after processing at its Larvotto plant, as well as storage and transport of water to consumers. It also manages the wastewater treatment plant to which the wastewater from the Principality and Beausoleil passes. Forty employees ensure the continuity of essential public services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.