1853
Générale des Eaux is established in France. Napoleon signs the imperial decree for the creation of the company on 14th December 1853, and the first water contract is signed in Lyon.

1872
A forerunner of one of the companies which is later to become Three Valleys Water starts life as the Barnet District Gas and Water Company and is set up by an Act of Parliament.

1873
Another forerunner of Three Valleys Water starts life as Colne Valley and is established by an Act of Parliament.

1880
Générale des Eaux broadens its range of services both in France and abroad. In 1880 the company signs its first foreign contract for the rights to water production and distribution in Venice, soon to be followed by contracts for Constantinople in 1882 and Porto in 1883.

1950s
Folkestone & Dover amalgamates with Elham Valley Water Company and The Littlestone Undertaking.

1960
Lee Valley Water Company is formed from the merger of Barnet, Herts and Essex and 14 other undertakings in the Northern Home Counties.

1964
Tendring Hundred takes control of the water undertaking from Brightlingsea Urban District Council.

1970
Folkestone takes control of The Dover, Hythe & Sandgate Undertakings.

1973
Watford Corporation water undertaking is merged with Colne Valley, Luton Water company is merged with Lee Valley. North Surrey Water is founded.

1987
Générale des Eaux sets up General Utilities with a view to taking advantage of privatisation and to obtain a foothold in the UK market. It starts developing partnerships and investing in UK water supply.

1988
General Utilities acquires Lee Valley and North Surrey.

1989
General Utilities acquires Folkestone and Dover & Tendring Hundred Water.

1989
Water Act privatised the Water and Sewerage companies.

1990
Three Valleys Water Services PLC is established.

1992 - 1996
Générale des Eaux expands itswater services outside Europe in the US, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In Europe its water business is now particularly strong in the UK and Spain as well as France.

1994
Lee Valley, Colne Valley and Rickmansworth water companies merge into Three Valleys Water. UK Group headquarters at Old Queen Street opened by then Environment Secretary, the Rt Hon John Gummer MP.

1998
Annual shareholders meeting votes corporate name and identity change from Générale des Eaux to Vivendi. Vivendi Water Partnership is established. Folkestone & Dover Water Services celebrates its 150 years anniversary.

1999
Vivendi Environnement (VE) is established as a separate environmental services subsidiary of the Vivendi Universal Group, comprising Vivendi Water, Onyx, Dalkia and Connex. US Filter is acquired. VE is world leader of services to the environment and Vivendi Water is the world leader in water services.

2000
Vivendi Environnement is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. North Surrey Water is merged with Three Valleys Water. Vivendi Water Industrial Outsourcing is founded.

2001
Vivendi Environnement is then listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

2002
Vivendi Environnement becomes an independent company after Vivendi Universal reduces its stake to 20.4%.

2003
Vivendi Environnement changes its name to Veolia Environnement, and the water business becomes Veolia Water. In September, Veolia Environnement announces its North America's strategic refocusing on outsourcing services and long-term contracts for both municipalities and industrial companies.

2004
The strategic plan of disposal of non-core activities - mainly USFilter Systems and Services businesses, Culligan and Everpure - is completed.

2006
Veolia Environnement announces the name change of its four environmental divisions to Veolia Water, Veolia Environmental Services, Veolia Energy and Veolia Transport.