25 Septembre 2026

France’s Plan Eau: What Water Storage Solutions Are Available to Reduce Industrial Water Consumption?

plan-eau-industrial-water-storage-solutions

Water management has become a strategic issue for industrial sectors in France. Increasingly frequent droughts, growing pressure on certain water basins, and restrictions on water abstraction are driving companies to reduce their reliance on conventional water supplies.

Launched in 2023, the Plan Eau sets, among other objectives, a national target of reducing water abstraction by 10% by 2030. For businesses, this approach is based on several key areas of action: monitoring water use, reducing losses, optimising processes, reusing certain water volumes, and making better use of available resources.

Within this strategy, water storage plays a complementary role. A storage tank makes it possible to retain available volumes, create a buffer between different stages of a process, or facilitate the recovery and reuse of certain effluents.

Key points

Industrial companies can take action on several fronts: process optimisation, leak reduction, water reuse, and recovery of available volumes.
Water storage facilitates the management and use of certain water resources.
Collected rainwater, process effluents, and volumes resulting from appropriate treatment can provide alternatives, depending on their quality and intended use.
The choice of a storage tank depends on the nature of the liquid, the volume to be stored, site conditions, and operational requirements.

Why does the Plan Eau affect industrial companies?

Water is involved in numerous industrial processes, from cooling and cleaning to manufacturing. In sectors such as food processing and chemicals, water may be essential at several stages of production.

At certain facilities, water availability can have a direct impact on production continuity. Managing this resource is therefore an environmental, operational, and economic challenge.

The level of exposure varies according to the industry, the processes involved, and the location of the facility. Local hydrological conditions, the status of groundwater and surface water bodies, as well as applicable restrictions, can also affect the conditions each company must address.

In a climate increasingly marked by recurring drought events, each operator must develop a strategy tailored to its facilities, with specific measures and realistic objectives.

What measures can be taken to reduce water abstraction?

The first step is to accurately determine the volumes of water abstracted and consumed. A detailed assessment of water uses and a consumption balance can help identify the main points of use and potential losses.

From there, companies can take action on several fronts:

Identify and repair leaks in water networks

Optimise processes

Reduce cooling requirements

Improve cleaning cycles

Reuse certain water volumes after appropriate treatment

Collect rainwater

Store available water volumes

These measures are complementary. Storage does not directly reduce water consumption, but it can facilitate the use of alternative water resources and reduce the need for additional abstraction.

Note: The Water Conservation Plan (Plan de Sobriété Hydrique, PSH) is part of the Plan Eau and aims to develop specific measures, at sector or organisational level, to reduce and optimise water consumption.

What role does water storage play in an industrial water management strategy?

Water storage makes it possible to separate in time the moment when a volume becomes available from the moment when it is used. This function is particularly useful when available volumes fluctuate over time, for example in the case of collected rainwater, certain process liquids, or treated effluents intended for reuse.

A storage tank can be integrated into different configurations:

Collection → storage → treatment → reuse

Treatment → storage → industrial use

It can also be used as a buffer volume between several stages of a process and help ensure the supply of specific installations.

Tank sizing depends on the required volume, the frequency of filling and emptying cycles, the nature of the liquid, and operating conditions.

What types of storage tanks are available for industrial applications?

Tanks for process liquids

Certain liquids generated by industrial processes can, following appropriate conditioning and depending on their quality, be reused for other applications.

Storage makes it possible to retain these volumes between two stages of a process or to create a reserve for subsequent use. This configuration can help reduce reliance on conventional water supplies.

Tanks for treated wastewater reuse (REUT) projects

The reuse of treated wastewater (REUT) provides a way of reducing pressure on conventional water resources.

In a REUT installation, the tank can be used to store water after treatment and before it is used. It can also act as a buffer volume between the treatment plant and the point of use.

The water quality, treatment level, and storage characteristics must be defined according to the intended use and applicable regulatory requirements. The storage tank is therefore one component of the resource recovery and reuse chain, but it does not replace the treatment processes required.

Rainwater storage tanks

Rainwater harvesting can reduce certain uses of water from conventional sources. Water collected from roofs or specific surfaces within a facility can be directed to a storage tank before being used for applications compatible with its quality.

Storage provides a reserve that is independent of when rainfall occurs. This solution can be particularly suitable where significant collection surfaces are available and water demand is relatively regular.

Raw and treated water storage tanks

Storage can be used for both raw water and water that has undergone various treatment stages, such as reverse-osmosis water, ultrafiltered water, or demineralised water. These tanks provide a buffer volume between production and use or help ensure the availability of water for specific stages of an industrial process.

The choice of material and sealing system depends on the characteristics of the stored liquid and the requirements of the installation.

How do you choose the right storage tank for a project?

The choice of storage tank depends on several parameters:

The nature of the stored liquid: Its physicochemical characteristics determine, among other factors, the choice of materials, lining, and sealing system.

The required volume: Capacity must be determined based on the facility’s requirements, inlet and outlet flows, and variations in water use.

Site conditions: Climatic conditions, wind, snow, seismic activity, ground characteristics, and available space can all influence the design.

Tank operation: Access, connections, internal equipment, safety devices, control systems, and maintenance requirements must be taken into account during the design phase.

Regulatory and standards requirements: Tank sizing and equipment must be adapted to the application and to current regulations and standards.

Why choose a bolted steel storage tank?

For certain installations, bolted steel construction facilitates installation. The individual tank components are manufactured in a workshop and then assembled directly on site, thereby limiting, among other things, on-site welding operations.

The modular design also makes it possible to adapt the tank dimensions to the characteristics of the installation.

Depending on the application, tanks can incorporate different materials, coatings, liners, roofs, and accessories to meet the characteristics of the stored liquid and the operating conditions.

APRO Industrie’s experience in water-related applications

APRO Industrie designs and manufactures storage tanks for various types of liquids, particularly for applications related to water resource management and drought mitigation programmes.

Its experience includes the storage of:

Process effluents
Treated wastewater
Collected rainwater
Raw water resources
Potable water
Reverse-osmosis water
Demineralised water

Depending on the characteristics of the installation, tanks can be equipped with suitable liners, different roof configurations, connections, accessories, and internal equipment.

APRO Industrie supports its customers at every stage of the project, from engineering and sizing through to manufacturing and on-site installation. Its experience with projects worldwide makes it possible to take into account the technical constraints and specific requirements of different industries.

Plan Eau: a strategy based on several areas of action

Storage can make it possible to use certain rainwater or treated wastewater resources and ensure the volumes required for process operation.

Measuring, reducing, reusing, recovering, and storing water are complementary measures.

The objective is not to store more water, but to store the right resource, in the right volume, for the right application. Within the framework of the Plan Eau, this approach can help strengthen the resilience of industrial facilities in the face of variations in resource availability and changing climatic conditions.

Technical expertise can help assess water consumption, define objectives, and identify the solutions that need to be implemented.

FAQ: Plan Eau and water storage for industrial companies

What is the Plan Eau for industry?

The Plan Eau is a French national plan launched in 2023 to improve water resource management and reduce water abstraction. One of its national objectives is to reduce water abstraction by 10% by 2030.

This approach is based, among other things, on responsible water use, optimising water consumption, reuse, and making better use of available resources.

Can water storage directly reduce water consumption?

Storage does not directly reduce water requirements. However, it makes it possible to manage available volumes more effectively and can facilitate their reuse.

What types of liquids can be stored in an industrial tank?

Depending on the application, it is possible to store rainwater, process water, treated wastewater, raw water, potable water, reverse-osmosis water, or demineralised water.

The choice of tank, material, and sealing system must be adapted to the nature of the liquid and its intended use.

Is treated wastewater reuse (REUT) suitable for all industrial facilities?

REUT can provide a solution for certain applications. Its suitability depends, among other factors, on the quality of the water after treatment, the intended use, and the applicable regulatory framework.

A preliminary assessment can be used to determine the technical conditions required for the installation.

Why use a bolted steel tank?

Bolted steel tanks are made from prefabricated components that are subsequently assembled on site. This system limits, among other things, on-site welding operations and facilitates installation in environments where space or access may be restricted.

How is a storage tank sized for an industrial facility?

Tank sizing depends, among other factors, on the volume to be stored, inlet and outlet flows, frequency of use, nature of the liquid, climatic conditions, and site characteristics.

A technical assessment makes it possible to determine the appropriate tank capacity and specifications for the operation of the facility.

Reducing water abstraction starts with a comprehensive water resource management strategy

The Plan Eau encourages companies to reduce their water requirements and seek solutions that help secure their water supplies.

Reducing water use, optimising processes, treated wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and storage can be combined according to the characteristics of each facility. An initial assessment and water consumption balance make it possible to establish priorities and set objectives suited to each situation.