epur nature

What epur nature does

SAVEA Nature, formerly Epur Nature, is a French private company (SAS structure) that designs, installs, and services ecological wastewater treatment systems. Founded in 1999 (with predecessor Agro Environnement SA in 1998) and now operating as a subsidiary of Groupe CAÏALI following a 2023 integration and rebranding, the company serves municipalities, wine producers, distilleries, dairy processors, industrial facilities, campgrounds, and agricultural operations across France, with additional historical activity in Spain and the French Caribbean.

The company's core technology is the planted reed-bed filter (filtre planté de roseaux / filière végétalisée), an ecological treatment process using Phragmites reeds to filter wastewater. It has built a portfolio of patented and trademarked process variants addressing different effluent profiles: Rhizosph'air® (forced-aeration planted filter, Patent FR1553702), Combipur® (single-stage planted filter with integrated sludge storage, Patent FR1260981), BiHo-Filtre® (two-stage vertical flow filter for improved nitrogen removal, Trademark 3920482), Vitimax® and Cascade Twin® (Ministry-approved systems for combined wine and phytosanitary effluent treatment), Auto Epur (Ministry-approved non-collective sanitation system, 2009), Hydr'Epur® (stormwater and overflow treatment, 2013), and Phragmicompostage (sludge composting using planted beds). The technology portfolio is supported by long-standing research collaborations with INRAE and IRSTEA and participation in French and European research programs including ATTENTIVE, ADEPTE, Rur'eaux, APPROVE, LIFE INTEXT, and LAMA REUT.

SAVEA Nature operates a sales-led go-to-market model through three regional offices in France (Le-Pian-sur-Garonne HQ in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Chaponost in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, and Caumont-sur-Durance in Provence Alpes Côtes d'Azur). Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales and installation of treatment systems, supplemented by a recurring service and maintenance business (SAVEA Service Client) that has accumulated more than 250 monitoring contracts since 1999, plus transaction-fee sludge and emptying-matter treatment services using Phragmicompostage. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is based on custom project specifications.

Name

epur nature

Legal name

SAS SAVEA Nature

Website

https://epurnature.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SAVEA Nature (formerly Epur Nature) is a French company that designs, installs, and services ecological wastewater treatment systems based on patented planted reed-bed filter technologies, serving municipalities, wine producers, industrial facilities, and agricultural operations primarily in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Caumont-sur-durance

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wastewater treatment systems and equipment sales: Design, installation and sale of ecological wastewater treatment systems including planted filters, treatment plants for municipalities, industries, and agricultural operations. One-time equipment and installation revenue.
2. Service and maintenance contracts: SAVEA service client provides assistance contracts, diagnostics, preventive and corrective visits, and remote monitoring. Over 250 monitoring contracts since 1999. Recurring service revenue from contract clients.
3. Sludge and waste treatment services: Treatment services for sludge and emptying matter using proprietary Phragmicompostage technology.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

epur nature (operating as SAVEA Nature) designs, installs and sells ecological wastewater treatment systems based on vegetalized planted reed-bed filters (filtres plantés de roseaux). The company delivers turnkey treatment plants and ongoing maintenance/monitoring services for municipalities, industrial sites, wine producers and distilleries, agri-food processors, and hospitality operators in France and abroad.

Product overview

SAVEA Nature offers a comprehensive portfolio of ecological wastewater treatment solutions centered on planted filter technologies (filtres plantés de roseaux). The core product family includes Rhizosph'air® (forced aeration planted filters with patent), BiHo-Filtre® (two-stage vertical flow system), Phragmifiltre®, Combipur®, and HYDR'EPUR (stormwater treatment). The company provides specialized solutions for different sectors: vinicole & distilleries (SAFPR, BAFPR, Boues activées), industrial & agro-food (Effluents fortement chargés), municipal and private collective sanitation, sludge and septic tank management (Phragmicompostage), stormwater management, and operational assistance services. Acquired brands Vitimax® and Cascade Twin® provide ministry-approved combined treatment for wine and phytosanitary effluents. The company operates through regional agencies and maintains scientific partnerships with research institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rhizosph'air® Patented planted filter with forced aeration for domestic and industrial wastewater treatment; uses active oxygen supply to the root zone to enhance treatment efficiency. Sold to municipalities and industrial clients.
• BiHo-Filtre® Two-stage vertical flow planted filter that superposes a free-drained primary filter over a saturated secondary filter to improve global nitrogen removal. Sold to public-collective sanitation customers.
• Phragmifiltre®

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LIFE INTEXT European Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020European research project: AQUALIA (Leader), AIMEN, Aarhus University, Autarcon Gmbh, CENTA, FINT, Comercial Projar, SYNTEA France and SYNTEA España. Study of intensive and extensive wastewater treatment systems for rural communes.
• ATTENTIVE Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Innovation for sustainable sanitation: Communauté d'Agglomération de l'Espace Sud Martinique, Régie Nord Caraïbes Guadeloupe, COTRAM, IRSTEA, Agence Française de la Biodiversité, Offices de l'eau Martinique et Guadeloupe.
• INRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research institute under agriculture and research ministries. Development partner for processes and technologies. Partner in Rur'eaux and LAMA REUT research projects.
• SoltenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitivity pole, clusters and associations. Active member of the network.
• Global Wetland TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of World Experts in Planted Filter technologies. Strategic partner for technology development and industry positioning.
• IRSTEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for ATTENTIVE, ADEPTE, APPROVE projects and technology development.
• SintcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociété d'Ingénierie Nature & Technique. Technical partnership for engineering and natural treatment solutions.
• AsteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation scientifique et technique pour l'eau et l'environnement. Scientific and technical partnership in water and environment sector.
• InnovinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine industry innovation partnership.
• AquavalleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater industry cluster membership for regional innovation and economic development.
• Ea Eco-EntreprisesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPôle Régional d'Innovation et de Développement Economique Solidaires (PRIDES) labeled by Conseil Régional PACA.
• France Water TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater industry team partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Environnement: Global leader in water and wastewater services, including municipal and industrial effluent treatment. Overlaps with SAVEA in municipal and industrial sanitation but serves a vastly broader portfolio and scale, competing on large tenders where SAVEA's niche planted filters are not selected.
• Suez: Major water and waste management group with extensive municipal and industrial wastewater treatment operations in France and globally. Competes broadly with SAVEA in French municipal tenders while also serving as a potential acquirer or partner for niche nature-based treatment assets.
• Xylem: Global water technology company offering treatment systems, smart metering, and infrastructure for municipal and industrial water applications. Competes in larger municipal tenders while increasingly investing in nature-based and resource-recovery treatment approaches adjacent to SAVEA.
• Degrémont (Suez subsidiary): Suez's water treatment subsidiary specializing in municipal and industrial drinking water and wastewater plants. Historically a primary competitor in French municipal tenders where SAVEA's smaller-scale planted filters compete on ecological footprint and cost.
• Innovyze / Ecolab Water Services: Ecolab provides industrial water management and wastewater treatment services across food and beverage, including the wine industry. Comparable to SAVEA's vinicole and distillery effluent line where Ecolab serves large enterprise customers while SAVEA targets mid-market.

Direct peers

• Phytorestore: French ecological engineering firm specializing in constructed wetlands and planted filter systems for wastewater and stormwater treatment. Direct comparable to SAVEA Nature's filtres plantés de roseaux technology, often competing in French municipal and rural sanitation tenders.
• Premier Tech Water and Environment: Provides decentralized wastewater treatment systems, including Ecoflo biofiltration and nature-based solutions for residential and municipal markets. Direct comparable on vegetalized and biofiltration wastewater technology with similar rural and decentralized customer focus.
• Scirpe: French engineering consultancy specialized in reed-bed filters and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. Closest direct peer to SAVEA on French planted filter sanitation projects, particularly for small municipalities and rural communes.

Emerging players

• WPL Limited: UK-based provider of packaged and decentralized wastewater treatment solutions, including nature-based and hybrid systems for residential, commercial, and small municipal applications. Comparable technology stack and customer profile in decentralized sanitation.

Regional players

• Aqualia (FCC Group): Spanish water services company and leader of the LIFE INTEXT European project alongside SAVEA. Direct collaboration partner and potential geographic peer on nature-based and intensive/extensive wastewater treatment for rural communes in Mediterranean Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SAVEANATURE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epur-nature

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about epur nature