Liquid effluents

Industrial effluent waste is processed either in our water treatment plants or in city treatment plants in accordance with agreements reached with the operators. The effectiveness of purification is measured using three indicators: chemical oxygen demand, suspended matter and nitrogen.

It is estimated once all processing, whether internal or external, has been completed. When processing takes place outside the Group, at an industrial station or city treatment plant, the percentage of waste due to our activities is estimated on the basis of the data provided by the plant operators. When these data are not available, the yield from purification is considered to be 50% by default.

COD is the main environmental indicator for our effluents. Innovative technologies, such as membrane bio-reactors, as well as more conventional biological stations and physicalchemical stations are used.

The increase observed in 2004 results from a strong rise in production at two of our establishments.

Following physical-chemical and biological purification, the water is clarified in decanters or using filtration membranes. The effectiveness of such systems is measured by the weight of residual suspended matter. The increase observed in 2004 results from a strong rise in production at two of our establishments.

Nitrogen is essential for the development and efficacy of a number of pharmaceutical active ingredients. Water treatment stations also play a role in reducing nitrogen waste in the form of ammonia. The residual environmental load is expressed in tons.