A major project completed

Paris, January 7, 2022 — After more than three years of work, the City of Paris has officially completed the ambitious redevelopment project of the Bugeaud stormwater overflow structure, located in the Bois de Boulogne, in the 16th arrondissement. This large-scale project aims to improve stormwater management and reduce pollutant discharges into the Seine River.

Work Completed (2018–2021)
 

Lot 1 – Disconnection Pipeline
Installation of a pipeline beneath Allée de Madrid in Neuilly, with a major microtunneling incident in June 2019 that delayed the works. The pipeline was fully commissioned in July 2021 after sediment analysis and cleaning.

Lot 2 – Pumping Station and Storage Facility
Construction of an underground structure beneath Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, designed to store effluents and transfer them to a planted filter. Works were slowed by the COVID-19 health crisis, particularly due to telecommunications issues and challenges in organizing tests.

Lot 3 – Macrophyte Planted Filter
Located on Route de l’Étoile, this facility treats water before it is returned to the natural environment. Commissioned in early 2021.

 

Challenges Encountered

  • A major technical incident involving the microtunneling machine

  • Delays caused by COVID-19, affecting coordination, testing, and communications (fiber optics and 4G)

  • Technical complexity of the installation, requiring extensive and in-depth testing

 

Environmental Results

  • Total volume pumped: 47,240 m³, including 34,638 m³ discharged into the storm overflow and 12,602 m³ reinjected into the aquifer

  • No exceedance of regulatory thresholds for groundwater extraction

  • Installation of a monitoring system (hydrocarbon detectors, automatic samplers) to ensure long-term performance

 

The project stands as a technical and environmental success, contributing to the protection of the Seine River, the relief of the wastewater network, and a more sustainable management of the Bois de Boulogne ecosystem.