FARYS
FARYS is a Belgian public water utility association headquartered in Ghent, serving over 100 municipalities in Flanders with drinking water distribution, wastewater treatment, and sports facility management since 1923.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersGhent, Belgium
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FARYS does
FARYS is a Belgian public utility association (ov - openbare vereniging) headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, founded in 1923. The company provides drinking water distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and sports facility management services to municipalities and residents across more than 100 municipalities in the Flanders region, including major cities such as Gent, Brugge, Aalst, Dendermonde, and Oostende. Its service territory spans postal codes from 1620 to 9930, covering an extensive pipe network infrastructure embedded across these municipal service areas.
The company's core technology comprises physical water distribution and wastewater treatment infrastructure augmented by digital systems. FARYS deploys digital water meters (Digitale Watermeter) that capture consumption data, battery status, meter indices, and backflow volume, enabling remote monitoring. The MyFarys customer portal provides self-service capabilities for meter readings, billing, and service requests. The Farys Geoviewer offers GIS-based spatial data access on water infrastructure. For pipe renovation, FARYS employs Kousrenovatie (relining), a trenchless technology that installs cured-in-place liners inside existing sewer pipes robotically without excavation. Additional services include Aquadomo Legionella prevention, CREAT procurement center, standpipe rentals for temporary water supply, and inspection services.
FARYS generates revenue primarily through consumption-based water tariffs (per cubic meter) plus fixed connection charges, with tariffs varying by municipality. Household and non-household customers are segmented with different pricing structures, including a degressive tariff for high-volume non-household consumers. A social tariff provides an 80% discount on total invoices for eligible vulnerable customers. The go-to-market is sales-led within regulated municipal service territories, supported by digital self-service channels and direct customer service operations. The company is currently pursuing a merger with De Watergroep to form a combined entity called Waterunie.
FARYS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FARYS
- Legal name
- Farys ov
- Website
- https://farys.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- FARYS is a Belgian public water utility association headquartered in Ghent, serving over 100 municipalities in Flanders with drinking water distribution, wastewater treatment, and sports facility management since 1923.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FARYS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells (EUANACAC)
Keywords
Where FARYS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ghent
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FARYS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Drinking Water Distribution: FARYS generates revenue primarily through water distribution fees charged to residential and non-residential customers based on consumption (cubic meters) plus fixed connection fees. Tariffs vary by municipality and include components for water supply and sanitation.
- Wastewater Services: Collection and treatment of wastewater, billed as part of the integrated water price or separately. Revenue generated through service charges for sewer infrastructure maintenance.
- Temporary Water Supply (Standpijp): Rental of water standpipes for events, construction sites, and temporary use. Revenue includes meter rental fees, water consumption charges, and administrative costs plus security deposit.
- Sports Facilities Management: FARYS manages sports facilities as part of its public service mandate, generating revenue through facility usage fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Social Tariff - 80% discount for eligible customers |
| Usage-based | Annual | Household Water Tariff |
| Usage-based | Annual | Non-Household Water Tariff |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Standpipe Rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
FARYS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FARYS is a Belgian public water utility (openbare vereniging) that distributes drinking water, collects and treats wastewater, and provides related infrastructure services including pipe renovation, inspection, and digital metering across 100+ municipalities in Flanders. The company also manages sports facilities as part of its public service mandate and offers a self-service customer portal (MyFarys) for billing and meter management.
Product overview
FARYS is a Belgian public utility company (ov) that operates as a multi-service infrastructure provider. The core offerings center on drinking water distribution and wastewater treatment services, delivered through both physical infrastructure and digital platforms. The product portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) core water services including drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, rainwater management, and inspection services; (2) infrastructure services such as pipe renovation via relining, standpipe rentals for temporary water supply, and public domain construction works; and (3) digital services including MyFarys customer portal, digital water meters, and Farys Geoviewer for geographic data access. Supplementary services include CREAT procurement center and Legionella prevention through Aquadomo.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Drinkwater (Drinking Water Supply) Distribution and transport of drinking water to residential and commercial customers across more than 100 municipalities in Flanders, Belgium. Tariffs include a fixed charge (vastrecht) and variable consumption charge, with 6% VAT on drinking water.
- Afvalwater (Wastewater Treatment)
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% discount on total invoice for eligible social tariff customers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use FARYS
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FARYS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
FARYS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- CREAT (Aankoopcentrale)minorCREAT is a purchasing center that FARYS partners with to provide aggregated purchasing services for participants. FARYS directs customers to CREAT for purchasing advantages.
- FluviuscoreCollaboration with Fluvius for digital water meter installation. Data is shared with Fluvius and subcontractors so that installers only need to visit locations once. This cooperation is designated in Section 2.2.2, paragraph 2/1 of the Decree on Integrated Water Policy.
- Municipalities (Gemeenten)coreFARYS works with municipalities across its service area for infrastructure projects. The company coordinates with local government on road works, pipe installation, and public domain projects. Partners include gemeenten such as Asse, Beersel, Gent, Brugge, and over 100 other municipalities.
- WateruniecoreWaterunie is the fusion company being formed from Farys and De Watergroep. Once officially launched, it will be the combined entity. Until then, customers continue to receive documents from Farys.
- AquafinminorFARYS cooperates with Aquafin on certain infrastructure projects, particularly related to wastewater treatment and sewer network improvements.
- Agentschap Wegen en VerkeerminorCollaboration with the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic for projects involving public infrastructure where road and water works intersect.
- De LijnminorCoordination with De Lijn (Flemish public transport company) for projects affecting public transit areas and infrastructure.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FARYS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wiener Wasser (Wien Energie/WienWater): Municipal water utility serving Vienna and parts of Lower Austria. A historical European municipal water utility with century-plus operating history - directly comparable institutional profile to FARYS.
- Evides Waterbedrijf: Dutch public water utility serving the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta region. Comparable as a regulated municipal water utility with similar digital metering and quality monitoring practices.
- De Watergroep: Largest Flemish drinking water utility and explicit merger partner being combined with FARYS to form Waterunie. Operates under the same public association (ov) regulatory structure in Belgium.
- Berliner Wasserbetriebe: Municipal water and wastewater utility for Berlin, owned by the State of Berlin. Comparable as a publicly-owned integrated water utility serving a major urban area with combined water/wastewater operations.
- Vitens: Largest drinking water company in the Netherlands serving ~5.7 million customers. Comparable as a large publicly-mandated water utility with digital metering programs and strong sustainability positioning.
- SWDE (Société Wallonne des Eaux): Walloon Region public water utility operating across southern Belgium. Comparable public-utility structure and end-to-end water services portfolio, differing only in linguistic/regional jurisdiction.
- Pidpa: Flemish public drinking water utility serving Antwerp province and surrounding municipalities under similar public association structure. Comparable in scale, regulatory model, and service portfolio (water + wastewater-related).
- VIVAQUA: Brussels-Capital Region water utility providing drinking water distribution and wastewater services. Operates as a public inter-municipal entity comparable in regulatory model and service scope.
Broad incumbents
- Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water services giant operating across water supply, wastewater, and treatment technology. Provides adjacent services to municipal utilities worldwide - applicable as an incumbent comparator rather than direct in-territory competitor.
- Severn Trent: Large UK-listed regulated water and wastewater utility. Comparable business model (regulated water + wastewater services to residential and commercial customers), providing international listed-utility benchmark for FARYS's underlying business.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FARYS social profiles
Digital presenceFARYS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FARYS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
FARYS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FARYS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FARYS
What does FARYS do?
FARYS is a Belgian public water utility (openbare vereniging) that distributes drinking water, collects and treats wastewater, and provides related infrastructure services including pipe renovation, inspection, and digital metering across 100+ municipalities in Flanders. The company also manages sports facilities as part of its public service mandate and offers a self-service customer portal (MyFarys) for billing and meter management.
Is FARYS a public or private company?
FARYS is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was FARYS founded?
FARYS was founded in 1923. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is FARYS based?
FARYS is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does FARYS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Drinking Water Distribution is the primary driver. The others are wastewater Services, temporary Water Supply (Standpijp) and sports Facilities Management.
Who are FARYS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wiener Wasser (Wien Energie/WienWater), Evides Waterbedrijf, De Watergroep, Berliner Wasserbetriebe, Vitens, SWDE (Société Wallonne des Eaux), Pidpa and VIVAQUA. Broad incumbents are Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions and Severn Trent.
Does FARYS have an API?
No public API is recorded for FARYS.
What industry is FARYS in?
FARYS's product category is Water Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANACAC, Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells. Its NAICS code is 221310 and its SIC code is 4941.