They are all small towns, a field where direct service provision by the local authority and small private water companies are both active. In Puy-de-Dôme county, Semea outbid Saur for the sewerage contract for the town of Pont-du-Château (pop. 9 000) and ousted Lyonnaise des Eaux from the town of Lezoux (pop. 5 000). In Charente county, Semea will now be supplying water to Ruelle, Magnac and the 11,000 residents of Touvre, previously serviced by Saur. The Pyrénées Service Public SEM takes over the water and on-site sanitation duties previously provided directly by the Mauléon-Barousse, Saint Paule de Nest and Nost town councils. Click here to visit the SEM federation website.To join the editorial team of Hydroplus, click here.