The Aqueducts of Fontainebleau
The aqueducts of the Vanne and Loing are key structures bringing drinking water from rural regions of Burgundy and Île-de-France to Paris. They are named after the rivers that feed them—the Vanne, a tributary of the Yonne, and the Loing, a tributary of the Seine. These aqueducts are vital for the city's water supply and are managed by Eau de Paris, the municipal agency for water production and distribution.
Construction and History
The Vanne Aqueduct, 156 km long, was constructed between 1866 and 1874. Designed by Eugène Belgrand under Baron Haussmann, it was intended to ensure a steady supply of clean water from distant sources to Paris. The Loing Aqueduct, built from 1897 to 1900, is shorter at 95 km but has a larger capacity due to its greater diameter. This aqueduct also collects water from secondary sources like the Voulzie and Lunain since 1925.
Both aqueducts play a role in Paris’s water system, initially supplying the Montsouris reservoir. Over time, adjustments such as the 1969 connection of the Vanne to the L’Haÿ-les-Roses reservoir have enhanced their utility.
Through the forest
In the Fontainebleau Forest, the two aqueducts follow parallel paths before merging at a treatment facility near the Croix-du-Grand-Maître district. This area serves as a critical junction, where waters from both aqueducts and secondary sources like the Voulzie undergo treatment before continuing to Paris. The Loing's pumping station at Sorques elevates its waters to match the Vanne's level, ensuring efficient integration.
The forest is also home to remarkable engineering feats, including a covered trench and the aqueduct bridge of Arcueil-Cachan. This bridge, with its 77 arches and towering height of 38 meters, showcases the intricate design required to cross the Bièvre Valley.
Modern Importance
Today, the Vanne Aqueduct carries water at a speed of 2.5 km/h, transporting 957 liters per second to meet about 20% of Paris’s drinking water needs.
