| In the 19th century, Arcachon used to go from 8,000 inhabitants in the winter to 20,000 in the summer. The lack of water prevented any development and it was not until 11th September 1882 that the town made a deal with the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (water company) for the conveyance of water from the Lac de Cazaux, which is of remarkable purity and quality. The water was carried through 16 km (10 miles) of pipelines and stored in two reservoirs each holding 300 m³. |
This water plant was opened by the Mayor, Mr Georges Méran, in 1884 and operated for a century until 1984, when it became the property of Arcachon town council in return for a symbolic fee of one franc. The building had been abandoned and occupied by squatters ever since it was ravaged by fire in 1990. |