It notes an average drop in prices (volume weighted) paid to the contractor. This benefits mostly communities with a population of more than 10,000 on the sewerage front and (this is new) benefits small water supply systems, even though they pay a higher price to start with. The trend towards shorter contracts is confirmed, shrinking from 15.4 to 10.9 years. While the market shares of the three leaders (Lyonnaise des Eaux France, Générale des Eaux and Saur) remain much the same, Laetitia Guérin-Schneider's team confirmed that other independent service providers were still present, since 1998. At the same time, the water companies trade association SPDE reported on a study conducted jointly with BIPE. The price of water rose steeply from 1995 to 1998 (3.7% to 8% per year), it shrank over the period 1999-2003 , ranging from a drop of 0.4% to a rise of 3.5% annually. The share of sewerage rose from 33% in 1994 to 37% in 2003. Water accounts for less than 1% of family spending (this has remained unchanged for ten years) as compared with 2% on telecommunications (and rising) and 3% on energy (falling). Water and sewerage services generate €6458 billion and €5488 billion respectively, nearly €12bn in total. Fifty-two per cent of the water bill goes to the private operator, 38% to the local authority and 10% to central government and the catchment authorities. On the sewerage bill, 51% goes to the local authority, 29% to central government and the catchment authorities and 20% to the private operator. In 2003, 74% of the population drank water provided by a private operator (39% Générale des Eaux, 22% Lyonnaise des Eaux France, 10% Saur, 3% independents). Private operators recorded a 2003 turnover of €5 billion (representing 1% of French commercial services) and invested €680 million in water and sewerage in 2004, and €116 million in R&D in 2003.Cliquez ici pour vous rendre sur le site internet du laboratoire GEA (Gestion de l’eau et de l’assainissement) de l’Engref.Click here to join the editorial team of Hydroplus.