49 REDUCE WATER CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION Water is extensively used in our business and must be saved and its discharges controlled. As an essential part of our testing processes, water is used in our laboratories to ensure our operational needs. We consume both drinking water in large quantities and, in compliance with quality and safety standards, osmosis water to ensure the proper operation of the machines on our platforms. Our discharges into the wastewater network are subject to different regulations depending on the country where we are located. In France, we are subject to random inspections by the Direction Régionale de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement (DREAL) [Regional Directorate for Environment, Development and Housing] on the quantities of chemical substances released into water. To prevent the risk of the release of chemical substances into the environment, we are working on setting up a system for monitoring our water consumption, refined by type of use within our various entities. The filters applied to our automated systems allow us to avoid discharging treated liquid into the network. These are regularly maintained and checked as part of our equipment maintenance programme. We are also working to modernise our wastewater treatment processes. Laboratoire Cerba will in 2024 equip its new technical platform with an ozone neutralisation station, ensuring that no chemical by-products are used. In Africa, we comply with local regulations by using a dedicated system of contaminated water treatment organised in separate flows. In concrete terms, contaminated liquid waste is either treated by an authorised external company or is subject to chemical treatment with regular internal control.
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