By Isabelle Vendeuvre,
Director of Group Standardization, SUEZ
LinkedIn
In a world plagued by climate, health and economic crises, the water sector is among the first to feel the effects, making sustainable water management and water resilience a strategic priority for the decades ahead. Protecting this vital resource is becoming increasingly critical to long-term stability and prosperity. More severe droughts and floods, forever chemicals (PFAS) in surface and groundwater, and mounting pressure on resources all point to the same conclusion: we need to fundamentally rethink how we manage water.
But lasting change can only be built on a foundation of trust. This shared commitment will be at the heart of the 2026 ISO Annual Meeting, when the international standards community comes together in Paris for their keystone event.
Standards that build trust
International Standards provide a common language for addressing challenges that transcend borders. They turn knowledge into shared operational frameworks that drive innovation, build trust among stakeholders, and accelerate the adoption of technologies and solutions that work seamlessly together.
In the water sector, trust relies on harmonized methods of measurement and analysis, which are essential for reliable data and sound decision-making. Without these common references, tackling pollutants such as PFAS or microplastics, and ensuring consistent and transparent management of water resources across regions, would be far more difficult.
By turning scientific knowledge into shared benchmarks, standards deliver tangible and measurable benefits for society, the economy and the environment. That is why SUEZ sees its participation in international standards work not simply as a responsibility, but as a strategic enabler.
Standards deliver tangible and measurable benefits for society, the economy and the environment.
Driving innovation through smart water management
Standards do more than define best practice. They create the conditions for interoperability and large-scale deployment. Remote water metering is a case in point. The development of shared standards have supported the adoption of long-range wireless technologies, which have allowed SUEZ to deploy more than seven million smart meters. The result: better control over water use and improved network performance.
The water sector is fully engaged in ISO’s work. This commitment reflects standardization’s unique ability to bring together a broad ecosystem, including large corporations, SMEs and public-sector partners, around a common goal: developing shared practices that benefit society as a whole.
SUEZ contributes through several initiatives:
Water and sanitation services
Mandated by the French Federation of Water Companies, SUEZ currently chairs ISO/TC 224, ISO’s technical committee on water and sanitation services. The sector’s strong international involvement has helped develop collective responses to environmental and societal challenges, while providing the structural frameworks needed to support its transformation and meet the needs of public and private stakeholders. This dedication has been recognized with three excellence awards in recent years.
Competitiveness clusters
In France, the standards work brings together the entire water sector, including dozens of SMEs that are part of competitiveness clusters such as Aqua-Valley in Montpellier. It also reinforces international cooperation. Through the French secretariat of ISO/TC 224, the twinning partnership between the Association Sénégalaise de Normalisation (ASN), Senegal’s national standards body, and AFNOR will help strengthen institutional and operational capacities in Africa. This initiative creates new opportunities to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, in line with the ISO Strategy 2030, strengthen ISO’s commitment to climate action, and support the objectives of the United Nations Water Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2026.
Circular economy
The transition to a circular economy is another key area of activity for SUEZ, and one that is inherently linked to natural cycles. SUEZ has contributed significantly to the development of the terminology, principles and implementation guidance that form the basis of ISO 59004 on circular economy. By encouraging more responsible use, and reuse, of resources, the standard helps build trust among consumers and stakeholders throughout the value chain.
Meeting tomorrow’s challenges with climate-resilient water systems
Standards also offer practical tools to guide stakeholders’ work. ISO 24566, for example, sets out a framework for assessing risks and developing climate change adaptation plans for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. ISO 24540, together with the ISO 24510, ISO 24511 and ISO 24512 series, strengthens service governance and performance, while ISO 24591 supports the development of reliable and interoperable digital solutions.
In today’s rapidly evolving water sector, International Standards provide an essential framework to guide this transformation, enable more sustainable economic models and respond to growing expectations for resource protection, biodiversity conservation and public health.
As a committed player in standardization, SUEZ will continue working alongside ISO and stakeholders across the water sector to help shape this work. By doing so, it aims to strengthen trust among water users, local authorities and industry, while promoting inclusive, standards-based solutions for the environmental challenges ahead.