Aquatech

What Aquatech does

Aquatech is a privately held global water and process technology company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, employing more than 700 water specialists and operating across North America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. The company designs, engineers, procures, and constructs custom industrial water treatment systems, with an installed base of more than 2,000 systems treating over 1.6 billion gallons of water per day. Its proprietary technology portfolio spans thermal desalination, membrane separation (BioMOD, QUA CeraQ, Q-SEP, EnviQ, FEDI), high-recovery brine concentration (HERO, ARRO, AVMD, RecovOAR), low-energy seawater reverse osmosis (LoWatt, DesalMOD), and digital optimization (DesalPro AI, BioFilmPro, TowerTrak). Through recent acquisitions of Koch Technology Solutions' direct lithium extraction business (Li-Pro), FTS H2O, and Century Water, Aquatech has built the PEARL platform — positioned as the only commercially proven end-to-end flowsheet for lithium extraction, conversion, and crystallization — extending its offering into critical minerals processing for the battery supply chain.

Aquatech serves large enterprise and government clients in mining, oil & gas, chemicals, power generation, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and the energy transition, with marquee engagements including a 25-year Design-Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (DBOOM) contract for Stegra's green steel plant in Sweden, lithium refining process trains at Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass, purification plants for Controlled Thermal Resources' Hell's Kitchen, and DLE deployments for Prairie Lithium, Standard Lithium, and Intrepid Potash's White Silver project. Revenue is generated through EPC project contracts, long-term DBOOM service and water-purchase agreements (notably the Water Island platform and John Laing-financed projects), technology licensing and process guarantees (PEARL, Li-Pro, RecovOAR), mobile water rental fleets, and recurring aftermarket services and performance chemicals. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supplemented by strategic channel and co-development partners (Momentum Technologies, Adionics, BioLargo, AECOM, Pani Energy).

Financially, Aquatech is privately held and does not disclose revenue; the company completed a landmark strategic investment from Cerberus in March 2025 and received a $4.7 million EXIM Bank direct loan in 2023, both supporting an active inorganic growth program and U.S. manufacturing expansion. Three acquisitions in roughly twelve months, multiple multi-year mega-project awards, and 100,000+ tons per year of lithium processing capacity under execution globally indicate a company scaling rapidly into critical minerals and energy transition water infrastructure alongside its established industrial water and desalination franchise.

Name

Aquatech

Legal name

Aquatech

Website

http://www.aquatech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Water Treatment

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Water Reuse Utilities (ZLD/MLD & Process Water Recycling) (EUANAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ), Membranes, Consumables & Chemicals (Elements, Antiscalants, Cleaning) (EUANAFAJ), Advanced Treatment & Purification Utilities (MF/UF, RO, AOP, UV) (EUANAGAD)

Keywords

• Water purification technology
• Industrial water treatment
• Desalination systems
• Zero liquid discharge
• Lithium processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Canonsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water & Process Technology Solutions (Engineering, Procurement, Construction): Aquatech designs, engineers, procures, and constructs custom water treatment systems for industrial clients. Revenue is earned through EPC contracts for desalination plants, ZLD systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and lithium processing plants. These are large, project-based contracts with clients in energy, mining, chemicals, and critical minerals sectors.
2. Design-Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (DBOOM) / Outsourced Solutions: Aquatech operates and maintains water treatment infrastructure under long-term DBOOM contracts (e.g., 25-year agreement with Stegra for green steel plant water island). Provides project financing, mobile water solutions, operations & maintenance, and Water Island platform services. Generates recurring revenue from service fees and water purchase agreements.
3. Technology Licensing & Process Design: Aquatech licenses its proprietary technology platforms (PEARL, Li-Pro, RecovOAR, HERO, AVMD, etc.) and provides process design services for client projects. Revenue includes technology fees, process guarantees, and performance-based payments tied to project outcomes.
4. Mobile Water Solutions: Rental fleet of mobile water treatment units (pretreatment, biological treatment, membranes, demineralization, PFAS destruction) providing temporary or supplemental water treatment capacity. Revenue generated through rental contracts with flexible financing options.
5. Aftermarket Services & Performance Chemicals: Ongoing aftermarket services including controls upgrades, performance chemicals, retrofits & upgrades, technical assistance & support, and water treatment audits. Generates recurring revenue from service contracts and consumables.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aquatech designs, builds, and services industrial water treatment and purification systems, including desalination plants, zero liquid discharge solutions, and the proprietary PEARL platform for lithium processing. The company delivers engineered solutions to industrial customers worldwide, treating more than 1.6 billion gallons of water per day across 2,000+ installations.

Product overview

Aquatech is a global provider of water and process technology solutions organized around a comprehensive portfolio of proprietary technologies and services. The core offering centers on the PEARL™ platform for end-to-end lithium processing, complemented by extensive membrane technologies (BioMOD™ suite, CeraQ™, EnviQ™, Q-SEP®), thermal technologies (AVMD™, HERO™, RecovOAR™), and desalination solutions (DesalMOD™, LoWatt™, DesalPro™). The QUA subsidiary provides specialized membrane products (FEDI®, EnviQ®, Q-SEP®). Key services include the Water Island™ DBOOM platform, mobile water solutions, and aftermarket services. The company serves diverse industries including energy transition, metals and critical minerals, semiconductors, desalination, and industrial water treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• QUA: Membrane technologies company offering FEDI fractional electrodeionization, Q-SEP hollow fiber ultrafiltration, CeraQ ceramic membranes, and EnviQ submerged ultrafiltration membranes.
• BioMOD
• PEARL
• Li-Pro
• Water Island
• RecovOAR
• LoWatt

Products and services

• PEARL Lithium Processing Platform Proprietary process platform for direct lithium extraction and processing, used by lithium producers such as Standard Lithium and Lithium Americas to recover lithium from brine resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% wastewater recovery at green steel facility (Stegra Water Island)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• EnersensesecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 June 2026Finnish industrial services company awarded a ~30 million euro contract to install pipelines and steel structures at the water treatment plant for Stegra's green steel facility in Northern Sweden. Aquatech is delivering the water treatment facility as part of the DBOOM arrangement, with Enersense providing construction services.
• Momentum TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Strategic partnership to create America's first end-to-end critical mineral processing platform, combining Momentum's proprietary Membrane Solvent Extraction (MSX) technology with Aquatech's PEARL process technology. The collaboration aims to support U.S. production of high-purity battery materials and rare earth elements while reducing dependence on imported critical minerals. PEARL technology already supports over 100,000 tons per year of lithium processing capacity globally.
• BioLargo Equipment Solutions & TechnologiessecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate commercialization of BioLargo's Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC) technology for PFAS treatment. The partnership integrates BioLargo's PFAS concentration technology with Aquatech's large-scale water purification and destruction capabilities, enabling both companies to jointly pursue global PFAS remediation projects for municipal and industrial clients.
• Corpus Christi PolymerssecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Aquatech was contracted as the desalination company to operate Corpus Christi Polymers' seawater desalination plant (approximately 90% complete) in Texas, which could produce ~9 million gallons of drinking water per day under an emergency drought response arrangement with Corpus Christi city.
• Intrepid PotashcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Joint Development Agreement with Intrepid Potash and Adionics for the White Silver Lithium Project in Wendover, Utah. The partnership successfully demonstrated 92.9% lithium extraction rate and 99.5%+ purity from byproduct brine at Intrepid's potash facility. Partners are conducting feasibility studies and detailed engineering for a 5,000 metric tonne lithium extraction facility, targeting final investment decision in 2026 and commercial operations in 2027-2028.
• AdionicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026French lithium extraction technology firm partnered with Aquatech and Intrepid Potash under a Joint Development Agreement for the White Silver Lithium Project. Adionics provides direct lithium extraction technology while Aquatech contributes facility design and process expertise. Successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate from byproduct brine at Utah potash facility.
• DataVolt Information Technology CompanysecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Aquatech signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DataVolt for water cooling and recycling technology cooperation and services, targeting data center and technology infrastructure markets.
• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AECOM and Aquatech partnered to deliver PFAS destruction with DE-FLUORO technology, combining AECOM's electrochemical PFAS destruction expertise with Aquatech's end-to-end water treatment capabilities for comprehensive PFAS remediation projects.
• John LaingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2024John Laing, a leading infrastructure investor, partnered with Aquatech to deliver water technology as a service under a 25-year DBOOM agreement for Stegra's (H2 Green Steel) world-first large-scale green steel plant in Boden, Northern Sweden. John Laing provides project financing while Aquatech delivers comprehensive water treatment and ZLD services.
• Pani EnergysecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Aquatech partnered with Pani Energy for artificial intelligence advancement in desalination operations. The partnership aims to reduce energy and cost associated with desalination through Pani's AI-driven optimization platform, encouraging further adoption of desalination solutions and addressing water security issues.
• Fluid Technology Solutions (FTS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023Aquatech and Fluid Technology Solutions entered into a strategic partnership to deliver the next generation of advanced separation, brine concentration, and water reuse solutions. The partnership subsequently led to Aquatech's full acquisition of FTS H2O (Oregon), acquiring RecovOAR osmotically assisted reverse osmosis and OsmoBC forward osmosis technologies.
• Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Aquatech was selected as technology partner to deliver purification process plants for CTR's Stage 1 Lithium Hydroxide Facility at the Hell's Kitchen project in California. The project targets 25,000 metric tons per year of lithium by 2029 using direct lithium extraction technology, representing a ~US$1 billion facility. CTR is going public via SPAC merger at $4.7 billion valuation.
• Lithium Americas (Thacker Pass)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Aquatech was awarded the contract for lithium refining process at the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, one of the largest lithium developments globally. Aquatech delivers multiple process trains with evaporation and crystallization systems for production of 40,000+ metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia operates the world's largest water and wastewater services platform, with EPC, ZLD, and DBOOM capabilities across municipal and industrial markets. It competes head-to-head with Aquatech on large desalination and industrial reuse projects, particularly in the Middle East, while offering far greater geographic and service breadth.
• SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: SUEZ delivers industrial water treatment, membrane solutions, and digital water management to chemical, power, and oil & gas customers globally. Like Aquatech, it offers EPC, specialty chemicals, and recurring services, but at significantly larger scale and with broader chemical adjacencies.
• Ecolab (Nalco Water): Ecolab's Nalco Water segment provides industrial water treatment chemicals, monitoring, and outsourced service programs to the same mining, refining, chemical, and power customers Aquatech serves. It overlaps on performance chemicals, ZLD retrofits, and digital water optimization (DesalPro vs. Ecolab's 3D Trasar), but lacks Aquatech's depth in lithium/critical-mineral processing.
• Xylem (including Evoqua): Xylem, post-Evoqua merger, is a global leader in pumps, filtration, and water/wastewater treatment with strong municipal and industrial exposure. It competes with Aquatech on advanced treatment equipment, RO/UF membranes, and digital monitoring, and brings a larger service network and capital base.
• Pentair: Pentair manufactures residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment equipment including filtration, softening, and RO systems. It overlaps with Aquatech on membrane and treatment technology but is far more fragmented across consumer/residential markets and lacks Aquatech's industrial EPC and DBOOM depth.

Direct peers

• Fluence Corporation: Fluence builds decentralized packaged water and wastewater treatment plants with strong ZLD and MLD capability for industrial and municipal clients. It is the closest direct peer to Aquatech's modular water-island-style offering, particularly for industrial reuse, although at smaller scale.
• H2O Innovation: H2O Innovation is a Canadian water-treatment specialist offering membrane filtration, UF/RO systems, and operation & maintenance services. It overlaps with Aquatech's QUA membrane product line, EPC execution for industrial and municipal clients, and recurring aftermarket services.

Emerging players

• Energy Exploration Technologies (EnergyX): EnergyX is a US-based direct lithium extraction technology developer with its own LiTAS sorbent platform and ambitious project pipeline in South America and the US. It is the most direct emerging competitor to Aquatech's PEARL/Li-Pro DLE platform in the critical-minerals market.
• Lilac Solutions: Lilac Solutions develops ion-exchange-based direct lithium extraction technology with commercial projects in the US (e.g., Lake Resources) and South America. It competes directly with Aquatech's Li-Pro and PEARL platform for lithium-brine processing contracts globally.

Regional players

• Doosan Enerbility (Doosan Heavy Industries): Doosan is a major South Korean EPC contractor specializing in large-scale seawater desalination plants (MED/MSF) for the Middle East. It competes with Aquatech on multi-100-MLD desalination tenders, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, though primarily with thermal rather than low-energy RO processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquatechinternationalcorporation
• Xx.com/aquatechintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/aquatechintl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquatech