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Preserving

Controlled management of Avène Thermal Spring Water

Avène Thermal Spring Water is kept under close surveillance. Lots of checks are carried out every year by our Water Research Centre to guarantee its quality. At the same time, its capture and use are strictly controlled.

Highly aware of the importance of ecosystems and soil for the quality of Avène Thermal Spring Water, we are developing many actions on the surrounding basin site. Each of the site entities is committed to sustainable management methods, to protect this unique and natural resource.

Beneficial nature

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Origins of Avène Thermal Spring Water

Avène Thermal Spring Water is found in rocks, known as “Dolomites”, which were formed 530 million years ago. These rocks form a steep permeable reservoir around 500 metres deep. This is what allows the Thermal Spring Water to circulate within the depths more than 800 metres below the ground. Surrounding it are rocks composed of schists and sandstone with low permeability.

The Avène impluvium is the surface that collects rainwater that will later form Avène Thermal Spring Water. The water infiltrates directly into the Dolomites or runs off into areas with low permeability via rivers.

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Environment

Protection of the Avène impluvium site.

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The emergence of Avène Thermal Spring Water

After infiltrating the surface of the impluvium, rainwater slowly migrates into the depths of the rocks.

As it circulates through the Dolomites, it is gradually enriched with elements from the rock. It heats up to about 60°C.

At the end of its journey, which takes 50 to 200 years, the Thermal Spring Water rises naturally, cools slightly, then emerges at the Sainte-Odile Source, located at Les Bains d'Avène. Today, three drums capture Avène Thermal Spring Water to feed the hydrotherapy centre and production plant.

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Working to preserve

Our priority is to safeguard and control the use of this unique and beneficial resource.

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    Here we don’t want to simply take the thermal spring water and use it. We want to take care of it.

    Sandrine Bessou-Touya

    Head of the Water Research Centre and Director of Applied Research for Dermo-Cosmetics R&D – Personal Care

    Learning more to better protect it

    Keeping the conditions constant ensures that Avène Thermal Spring Water retains its special qualities. As soon as the site was purchased in 1975, we observed and analysed Avène Thermal Spring Water to better understand and preserve it.

    Even today, we continue this work of monitoring and scientific investigation in the interests of the water, patients and our consumers, whose skin demands the best.

    The work of the Water Research Centre

    The Avène Hydrotherapy Centre is the only one in France to benefit from scientific monitoring from a Water Research Centre.

    • Over 1,000 control samples per year.
    • 49,000 annual analyses.
    • 10 points analysed at the Avène impluvium.
    • Collaboration with external experts: CNPF (Centre National de la Propriété Forestière, National Centre for Forest Property), BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Bureau of Geological and Mining Research).
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    In manufacturing, we want to be exemplary in environmental management.

    Séverine Roullet-Furnemont

    Head of CSR and Sustainable Development for the Pierre Fabre Group

    Efficient use of Avène Thermal Spring Water

    The abundance of Avène Thermal Spring Water makes it unnecessary to store or treat it. This ensures its properties are fully respected. To sustain this quality and its accessibility, we only collect the water we need. So, we stay well below the authorised flow rate. Any water that is not extracted or used continues on its natural course, joining the water of the Orb river.

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    FIND OUT MORE

    Discover the key ingredient at the heart of our products, our quality charter and what we’re doing to support the environment.