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In 1853, a water company named " Compagnie Générale des Eaux " (CGE) was created by Imperial decree in order to supply water to the public in Lyon. It served in this capacity for over a hundred years. Beginning in 1980, CGE began diversifying its operations from water into waste management, energy, transport services, and construction and property.
In 1998, the company changed its name to Vivendi, and sold off its property and construction divisions the following year. In July 2000, the company spun off the remaining water and waste companies into Vivendi Environnement, which in 2003 was renamed Veolia Environnement.