A mission led in late 2025 by Veoliaforce volunteers from the Veolia Foundation supported the International Organization for Migration (IOM – UN Migration) in strengthening water access for displaced communities in South Sudan. By eliminating the need for chemicals, the partnership is helping lay the groundwork for more sustainable and resilient water systems in displacement settings.
In the context of South Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian emergency, technical responsiveness is critical to maintaining essential water services for displaced communities. In partnership with IOM, the Veolia Foundation has stepped up its expert missions and technical support to strengthen safe water access for populations affected by displacement.
Ultrafiltration: Ending the challenge of chemical reagents
Five Veoliaforce experts and three Aquaforce 7500 units were mobilized for this mission. These water treatment units utilize membrane filtration technology, which eliminates the need for aluminum sulfate.
In landlocked areas such as Bentiu and Malakal, the transportation of this chemical is often uncertain and expensive. It is also particularly polluting. By replacing chemical treatment with a physical barrier (ultrafiltration), the Foundation enables:
- Access to high-quality water to mitigate cholera risks;
- Service continuity independent of complex supply chains;
- Environmental protection for aquatic environments and soils against the risk of aluminum sulfate polluting water if mismanaged
A strategic partnership for humanitarian emergencies
This deployment illustrates the synergy between the cutting-edge expertise of Veoliaforce volunteers and IOM’s operational strength on the ground. The UN agency emphasizes the strategic importance of this partnership:
To carry out this mission, five Veoliaforce volunteers were present in South Sudan in December: Julien de Sousa and Guillaume Verhaeghe (based in France), Adam Testagrossa (from Veolia’s North American teams), and Muriel Schuller and Thomas Fougnié, water technology experts based in France and Australia, respectively.
They were supported remotely by Pierre Rousseau, a water technology expert who was himself deployed to the field in the spring of 2025. That initial mobilization saw seven Veoliaforce volunteers travel to South Sudan to deploy mobile water treatment units and conduct infrastructure audits.
