On 9 June 2026, Nîmes Métropole—the 39-municipality authority for about 268,000 residents around the city of Nîmes in France’s Gard department—reissued the tender for its combined drinking-water and wastewater concession, lowering the estimated value by €30.0 million to €310.0 million excluding value-added tax. The 10-year contract, running from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2037, includes a performance-based remuneration model that ties operator incentives to service results.
The future operator will supply drinking water to approximately 102,000 connections and wastewater services to 91,000 connections, equal to 15.0 million m³ billed and 12.5 million m³ treated each year. Contract scope spans operation, treatment, billing, and customer relations. Bids will be scored 80/100 on quality and 20/100 on economic equilibrium, with the deadline set for 30 September 2026.
The inherited service is improving despite slow asset renewal; non-revenue water stands at 26%, while the 0.48% annual network renewal rate trails France’s 0.66% national average.
