Over 67 million people in France have access to piped water services. Approximately 55% of the population is served through delegated service contracts with private operators, while the remaining 45% is served directly by public entities. Service provision is municipally organized but often managed at the intercommunal level (i.e., Établissements Publics de Coopération Intercommunale or syndicates), reflecting France’s decentralized governance model. Local authorities retain operational responsibility, while river basin agencies and national ministries coordinate investment planning and funding with oversight from regional health agencies (i.e., Agence régionale de santé, or regional health agencies) and the Office Français de la Biodiversité.

France faces mounting pressure to adapt its aging infrastructure to the extremes of climate change. More than 60% of water pipelines are over 40 years old, but leakage rates remain relatively low by European standards, averaging around 20% nationwide. National priorities are shifting, with a growing focus on drought resilience, reuse, and smart infrastructure. In 2023, Plan Eau allocated over €500 million to tackle leakage and expand treated wastewater reuse. European Union directives on wastewater treatment, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance regulation, and utility decarbonization are increasingly shaping France’s water policy.

Meanwhile, France’s patchwork of over 20,000 wastewater treatment plants and thousands of small-scale service authorities presents ongoing challenges for regulatory oversight, financial planning, and performance benchmarking—especially in rural and low-income areas. The sector is at a crossroads, balancing the need to meet public service mandates with the challenges of navigating energy, digitalization, and climate goals under tight budgets.