We are familiar with the old port, Bonne Mère basilica, and the picturesque creeks known as Calanques. But in the bowels of Marseille is a marvel of construction, invisible but at the cutting edge of innovation: sewers.
Built in 1891 to combat cholera and smallpox epidemics, and expanded in 1917 to preserve the beaches of the Prado, Marseille’s sewers extend over 2,000 kilometers, and continue to evolve. Since 2019 they were even equipped with France’s largest biomethane production unit, providing heating for thousands of households in a more environmentally-friendly manner.
How was this network built? What innovations were involved in its creation? How are engineers rethinking it to contend with the issues of tomorrow?
Direction: Olivier Mirguet
Production: La Famiglia for NOVO19
Delivery: July 2026