Leading Irish water and wastewater engineering company, Glanua has today announced it has acquired UK-based industrial operations and maintenance firm Aqua Operations as it continues to expand its operations in both Ireland and the UK.

Announcing the deal, Karl Zimmerer, Group Managing Director of Glanua, said:

"We are very pleased to acquire Aqua Operations which has built a strong reputation for excellence in the water and wastewater sector in a very short time. This acquisition creates significant synergies, allowing us to expand our operations and maintenance services in the UK while also enabling Aqua Operations to benefit from our design and build expertise. By combining the skills and capabilities of Aqua Operations, Glanua will enhance the range of services it offers and establish itself as a complete solutions provider in water and wastewater solutions to a wider range of customers."

The financial details of the sale remain undisclosed, but the acquisition will significantly enhance Glanua’s capacity to scale its industrial division business and increase its presence in the UK’s water and wastewater industry.

The acquisition comes after Loughrea-based Glanua recently announced it had received significant funding from Rabobank to support its continuing expansion.

Following the transaction, Aqua Operations will continue to trade under its current name, and its founder Jon Waller will remain in a leading role within the business. There will be no impact on existing jobs in either Glanua or Aqua Operations, with both parties planning to continue expanding their operations and headcount.

Bradford-based Aqua Operations currently employs 40 staff and has experienced remarkable growth since its inception in 2020. It has achieved revenues of £15 million within just four years and more than doubled its business in the past year alone.

The business is renowned for its expertise in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems, serving a diverse client base across the UK, including key clients such as Unilever, First Milk, and Greencore.

Aqua Operations will now look to expand and enhance its capabilities and offer new integrated design and build services alongside its existing operations and maintenance and technical support services for water and wastewater solutions.

The deal aligns with Glanua’s commitment to expand its industrial operations and maintenance services, an area in which the company has considerable expertise in Ireland. It also grows Glanua’s workforce to 546.

Glanua is already an industry leader in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build and deliver critical water and wastewater infrastructure across UK and Ireland. The company is a go-to partner for major water utilities in Ireland and the UK, including Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Affinity Water and Northern Ireland Water.

The new purchase follows a period of significant growth for Glanua in the past 12 months following the rebranding of the company from BHSL to Glanua in July 2023.

At the time of the rebranding, BHSL, now Glanua Group LTD, was the holding company for Glan Agua Ireland, Glan Agua UK, Hydro International and MEIC. Under the new rebranded and integrated identity, these companies were renamed to Glanua Ireland, Glanua UK, Glanua Industrial and Glanua Civils respectively.

Total revenue in Glanua amounted to €97 million in 2022 and increased to €150 million in 2023. The Group’s long-term strategic plan is to grow turnover to €400 million by 2028.

The Group is undergoing significant expansion and recently opened four new offices across Ireland and the UK in Belfast, Cork, Reading and London.

Glanua currently employs 546 number of staff including the 42 based in Aqua Operations. Its headcount has grown by 232 since July 2023, as it exceeded its original recruitment target of 100 new staff for the year.

The Group’s clients include Uisce Éireann, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Northern Ireland Water, Kerry Group, Glanbia and ABP.

Jon Waller, founder of Aqua Operations, commented:

"This is an exciting new chapter for Aqua Operations. Glanua is a leading provider of innovative and sustainable engineering solutions for critical water and wastewater infrastructure across the UK and Ireland. This acquisition will allow us to accelerate our growth and better serve our clients. I believe Glanua has the expertise and resources to grow Aqua Operations with new investment across all areas of our business. As Managing Director of Aqua Operations I look forward to working with Karl and the wider Glanua team."

Earlier this year, Glanua appointed Keith Hayward to lead its industrial business. Keith joined Glanua in May 2024 from Evoqua Water Technologies to support the company’s anticipated growth in the industrial sector over the next five years. 

Keith Hayward, Managing Director – Industrial Division of Glanua, said:

"This is a fantastic move for Glanua to increase its UK presence. Aqua Operations' clients will now have access to Glanua’s extensive design and build capabilities, and Glanua will acquire a solid customer base to expand its operations and maintenance portfolio. The company has huge potential for growth in the industrial market, and my aim as Managing Director of this Division is to make our company a full-service provider of water and wastewater solutions. I'm excited to collaborate with Aqua Operations' brilliant team to further their success and promote innovation and expansion.’’