Christophe Kleinklaus: "Veolia is a historic player in Var"

Previously commercial director of the South region for Veolia's Recycling and Waste Recovery activity, Christophe Kleinklaus, 50, succeeded Olivier Cavallo* in the Var Provence Méditerranée territory in April 2024.

Based in La Garde in the Pouvarel area, he shares his vision and the challenges for Veolia in the territory he manages. What is your background? Christophe KLEINKLAUS.

I have been with Veolia for more than 26 years. After business studies, I held various positions, mainly in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in Nice or Marseille, both in operational roles and support functions as Purchasing director then commercial director.

Thirty years ago, choosing to work in waste recycling and recovery was a choice that might have seemed unusual. But it showed that Veolia was also a pioneer in this sector. Yet, the choice of the Water activity seems like professional continuity?

CK. Indeed, because the goal remains the same, namely ecological transformation. And on a daily basis, my work also remains identical as it consists in maintaining close commercial relations with clients and local authorities.

My role is to drive the strategy and ensure it is known and deployed by all employees.

What is your area of intervention? CK. Veolia is a historic player in the department, present in Toulon for over 30 years.

Within the Var Provence Méditerranée perimeter, from central Var to Dracénie, including the Toulon area and up to La Londe-les-Maures and Bormes-les-Mimosas, we generate €110 million in revenue and have more than 300 employees working daily to provide 24/7 access to drinking water for nearly 400,000 people, as well as to clean wastewater before returning it to the natural environment or reusing it. We operate nearly 90 drinking water production facilities and wastewater treatment plants on behalf of local authorities. Veolia is an international group, but above all, it is a community of women and men who deliver essential services locally and are involved in the life of the territory.

Our role goes beyond the simple provision of essential services: we contribute to the dynamism of the territory by creating jobs, collaborating with local SMEs, and conducting partnership actions. What are the challenges for your teams? CK.

Veolia's activities are at the heart of the ecological transformation. We implement solutions to reduce our impact on natural resources and limit pollution. For example, our Hubgrade control center in La Garde optimizes the use of water resources thanks to connected equipment and real-time data analysis.

Since the end of 2023, we have been involved in a major transformation project of the AmphitriA wastewater treatment plant in Cap Sicié, on behalf of Métropole TPM, to ensure it remains at the forefront of innovation, meaning a plant that controls its environmental impact and produces energy.

And on the other parts of your intervention territory? CK. During the summer season, we monitor bathing water quality to ensure, on many coastal beaches, the health safety of swimmers and water body users.

Thus, more than 130 sampling points, including around a hundred beaches between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and La Londe-les-Maures, are set up. Furthermore, a few months ago, we took over the management of the Bormes-les-Mimosas station in Le Batailler on behalf of SIVOM Bormes - La Londe - Le Lavandou. We will carry out operational optimization work and implement photovoltaic panels.

Since last January 1st, we have been ensuring the distribution of drinking water in the perimeter of the upper country municipalities belonging to the Communauté d'Agglomération de Sud Sainte-Baume (La Cadière d'Azur, Le Beausset, Evenos, Signes, and Le Castellet).

How are your relations with elected officials? CK. They are paramount.

And, the water issue is a subject that interests elected officials. When I meet them, we talk a lot about water networks, water quality, and challenges surrounding conservation, and their interest pleases me. Elected officials are aware of the importance of our role and see us as an essential player in their economic environment.

We will participate in the Année de la Mer et des Océans which will be held in Nice next June. We are very committed to protecting biodiversity, particularly because within my territory of intervention lie the Parc national de Port-Cros, the future Parc naturel des Maures-Estérel-Tanneron, the Contrat de baie de TPM, and because many other remarkable areas also exist. We are fortunate to be present in the main Communautés d'Agglomération et de Communes and in the Métropole.