Cédric Fontaine

Making you happy when it rains

Rainwater, everyone talks about it. But who really explains it simply? A pioneer in rainwater management since 2005, I have worked on hundreds of projects — for individuals, communities, and industries — and have continuously expanded my expertise: parcel water management, greywater recycling, anticipating the challenges related to climate change. Twenty years of fieldwork, concrete solutions, and keen observation of what water does — or no longer does — in our landscapes. But what sets me apart from other expert voices on the subject is not the depth of my science. It’s the way I convey it. No complex models reserved for insiders and above all, no catastrophic discourse. Instead: a direct pedagogy, accessible to all audiences, that untangles the true from the false, questions preconceived ideas, and — most importantly — provides concrete action paths that everyone can adopt. My credo: water is a common good, and the more educated we are, the better we can protect it. So I educate, with enthusiasm and without condescension. Vice-president of the rainwater commission within the ATEP (Actors of Water Treatment at the Parcel Level), I am also one of those who push for change at the professional level — so that rainwater is finally recognized as a resource, not as waste to be disposed of. In my conferences, I take my audience on a journey between science, common sense, and pragmatism. We leave with clear answers, new reflexes — and a smile. Because a conference on rainwater led by a somewhat chauvinistic Breton named Fontaine can only be a lively, grounded, and memorable moment.