In France, RSDE (detection and reduction of hazardous substance discharges in water) and SDE (French acronym for environmentally hazardous substances) parameters are used to monitor and reduce the discharge of potentially toxic substances into water, particularly industrial and urban waste water.  

RSDE involves a broader, more systematic monitoring of these substances, while SDE is a specific parameter used to calculate the non-domestic pollution charge.  

Water agencies apply certain provisions to calculate and collect a “pollution” charge. 

This charge is calculated based on the annual pollution discharged into the natural environment, equal to 12 times the average monthly pollution and the highest monthly pollution discharged according to Légifrance (Decree of 24 June 2016 amending the Decree of 21 December 2007). 

These pollution charges are determined based on analysed physical and chemical parameters or calculations derived from these parameters. Each category of polluting activity is assigned a pollution coefficient. 

 

Introduction to environmentally hazardous substance (SDE) parameters 

SDE parameters are the “hazardous substance” parameters requested by the water agency every five years as part of the regular monitoring of discharges (SRR in France). 

The “SDE” parameter consists of 16 organic micropollutant molecules to look for in industrial waste water.  

 

• Alkylphenols: Nonylphenols, octylphenols 
• Benzene derivatives (BTEX): Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene 
• Organometallic compounds: TBT (tributyltin cation) 
• Phthalates: DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) 
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Naphthalene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(g,h,i)perylene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 

From 2016: introduction of environmentally hazardous substance (SDE) parameters identified in RSDE studies 

Following a legislative decree, water agencies now require laboratories to use standardised methods. 

List of the 16 substances that make up the parameter and their weighting coefficient 

1000	Benzo (g,h,i) pérylène	Hydrocarbures Aromatiques Polycycliques (HAP)
1000	Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrène
100	Anthracène
100	Fluoranthène
100	Benzo (a) pyrène
100	Benzo (b) fluoranthène
100	​Benzo (k) fluoranthène
10	Naphtalène
10	Benzène	Dérivés benzéniques (BTEX)
10	Toluène
10	Xylènes
10	Ethylbenzène
100	Octylphénols	Alkylphénols
50	Nonyphénols
1000	Tributylétain cation	Organo-métallique
10	Di (2-éthylhexyl)phtalate (DEHP)	Phtalate