Imagine being transported back to 1939. Gilbert Degrémont founded his water treatment company. That’s the story behind Rue Gilbert Degrémont. This street honors a man who revolutionized water treatment. He improved public health worldwide.
Gilbert Degrémont wasn’t just an entrepreneur. He was an innovator. Degrémont studied agronomy. He worked in his family’s foundry. The family business evolved into industrial water treatment.
His father, Émile, pioneered water treatment solutions. Gilbert joined his father and brother Étienne. Together, they advanced the field. Gilbert achieved a breakthrough in Saigon in 1933. He perfected iron filtering of the water.
In 1939, Gilbert struck out on his own. He founded Degrémont in Rueil-Malmaison. The company had offices in Paris. Workshops were located in Levallois-Perret.
After World War II, Degrémont achieved another milestone. He successfully filtered water for Saint-Étienne. This project processed 2,000 cubic meters per hour. He then turned his attention to the international market.
The company expanded globally. It secured a water treatment contract for Cairo. Large contracts followed in Tehran, Jakarta, and Lima. Degrémont’s solutions improved water quality worldwide.
Degrémont retired in 1972. His company merged with SGEA. It later became Lyonnaise des Eaux.
Degrémont designed the company’s dove logo. It symbolized peace and purity. Suez considered renaming Degrémont to Ondeo. Global protests erupted. People wanted to keep the Degrémont name. It represented modernity and health.
Degrémont’s company had a distinct culture. It was very French. The company struggled in Anglo-Saxon markets.
His legacy lives on. The company remains in Rueil-Malmaison. It continues to innovate in water treatment. Next time you drink clean water, remember Gilbert Degrémont. His work changed the world.