What Panton McLeod does

Panton McLeod is a specialist contractor providing advanced inspection and cleaning services for water assets across the UK and Ireland, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Selkirk, Scottish Borders. The company operates two integrated service pillars: Advanced Asset Inspection, delivered through ROVs equipped with ultra-definition 4K cameras, Flyability Elios 2/3 confined-space drones with LiDAR and ultrasonic thickness (UT) payloads, the Platypus autonomous aqueduct platform (built with Abyss Solutions) for LiDAR/sonar capture, and outdoor drones; and Advanced Asset Cleaning, anchored by proprietary PM Chemical Technology (PM77 for Rapid Gravity Filter restoration, PM88 for hydrocarbon removal, PM100 for membrane cleaning) developed over 25 years for potable-water systems. The company serves water utilities (Scottish Water, Severn Trent, South East Water, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water), industrial water operators, public-sector asset owners, and tier-one contractors such as Costain, delivering services primarily under multi-year framework agreements with project-based, quote-driven pricing and a 24/7 emergency response capability.

The business model is enterprise field sales executed through direct deployment of specialist teams to client sites, supplemented by framework contracts (e.g., the Scottish Water TWSP framework) and an emergency response hotline. There are no reseller, marketplace, or self-serve channels. Marketing and demand generation are driven by thought-leadership content under the EddyVision sub-brand (webinars, the Lightning Talks podcast hosted by founder Jim Panton, an annual EddyVision Water Quality Conference, and an RGF Filters Conference). In February 2024, Panton McLeod was acquired by Stonbury — a water and environment sustainability specialist backed by private equity investor LDC — combining its ~50-person team with Stonbury's ~350-person team; Jim Panton transitioned to a continuing leadership role within the combined entity.

Name

Panton McLeod

Legal name

Panton McLeod Limited

Website

https://pantonmcleod.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Specialist UK and Ireland contractor providing proprietary chemical cleaning and remote inspection services (ROVs, confined-space drones, autonomous aqueduct platforms) for water utilities, industrial operators, and public-sector clients. Founded 1994; acquired by Stonbury in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Asset Inspection and Cleaning Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Tank & Storage Hygiene (Inspection, Cleaning, Refurbishment) (BPABAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC), Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Water asset inspection
• Drinking water tank cleaning
• ROV underwater inspection
• Rapid gravity filter cleaning
• Potable water maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottish Borders

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Asset Inspection Services: Inspection services using ROVs, drones, and specialized platforms for water storage tanks, aqueducts, tunnels, and filter systems. Delivered under framework agreements with water utilities.
2. Asset Cleaning Services: Cleaning services for water storage tanks, gravity filter beds, boreholes, and rapid gravity filters using proprietary PM chemical formulations. Covers assets from small storage tanks to large service reservoirs.
3. RGF Filter Maintenance: Rapid Gravity Filter cleaning and restoration services using the PM77 system, delivering measurable performance recovery and extended filter lifespan.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Panton McLeod is a specialist contractor that inspects and cleans water assets for UK and Ireland water utilities, industrial operators and public sector clients. Its inspection services deploy ROVs with 4K cameras, confined-space drones with LiDAR/UT payloads and the Platypus long-range aqueduct platform, while its cleaning services apply proprietary PM chemical formulations (PM77, PM88, PM100) to restore tanks, rapid gravity filters, gravity filter beds, boreholes and aqueducts in situ without draining or media replacement. The company also operates a 24/7 emergency response service for bacteriological failures, hydrocarbon contamination, cryptosporidium events and flooding.

Product overview

Panton McLeod is a specialist contractor offering advanced inspection and cleaning services for public, commercial, and industrial water assets across the UK and Ireland. The company operates a unified portfolio organized around two core service pillars: Advanced Asset Inspection and Advanced Asset Cleaning, both underpinned by proprietary PM Chemical Technology. The inspection portfolio spans ROV Inspections (with ultra-definition 4K cameras), Confined Space Drone services (Elios 2/3 with LiDAR and UT payload), Outdoor Drone roof inspections, Drone 3D Modeling, Aqueduct & Tunnel Inspections (using the Platypus platform), Tank Leak Finder (with beetroot-based dye), ROV Sampling, and Confined Space Entry Support. The cleaning portfolio includes Tank Cleaning (water storage), ROV Underwater Cleaning, RGF Filters Cleaning using the PM77 Cleaning System, Gravity Filter Bed Cleaning, Borehole Cleaning, Lime Removal, Hydrocarbon Removal (using PM88), and Emergency Shower Unit maintenance. The company also delivers 24/7 Emergency Response services for water quality incidents. Educational content is delivered through the EddyVision sub-brand, encompassing webinars and Lightning Talks. Founded in 1994 and acquired by Stonbury in 2024, the company employs approximately 50 staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ROV Inspections Remote Operated Vehicle inspections of water storage tanks and other submerged assets using ultra-definition 4K cameras and advanced stabilization, deployed underwater to assess asset condition without draining tanks or human entry. Sold to UK and Ireland water utilities, industrial operators and public sector clients.
• Confined Space Drone Inspection Remote drone inspection of confined spaces using Elios 2 and Elios 3 platforms, with LiDAR scanning, ultrasonic thickness payload and live feed viewing, eliminating the need for human entry into hazardous water infrastructure. Sold to water utilities and industrial operators.
• Outdoor Drone Inspection Drone-based inspection of outdoor water infrastructure such as service reservoir roofs, providing close-up visual and thermal imagery without scaffolding or complex access equipment. Sold to water utilities and commercial property operators.
• Aqueduct & Tunnel Inspection Long-range remote inspections of aqueducts, tunnels, pipe-tunnels and culverts using the Platypus floating platform equipped with LiDAR, sonar and 6 cameras for comprehensive 360-degree digital inspection. Sold to water utilities operating long-distance water conveyance assets.
• Tank Cleaning (Water Storage) Cleaning of drinking water storage tanks ranging from small building storage to large service reservoirs, using low-pressure PM chemical cleaning methods to remove biofouling without damaging assets. Sold to UK and Ireland water utilities, industrial operators, public sector organisations and commercial property owners.
• RGF Filter Cleaning (PM77 Cleaning System) In-situ chemical cleaning of Rapid Gravity Filters using the proprietary PM77 formulation, restoring filter performance and extending operational life by up to 2.5 years without media replacement. Sold to water utilities operating RGF assets.
• Gravity Filter Bed Cleaning Cleaning service for gravity filter beds using PM chemical solutions to remove iron, manganese bio-fouling and material build-up from filter floors and nozzles. Sold to water utilities operating slow sand and gravity filter installations.
• ROV Underwater Cleaning Robotic underwater cleaning of treated water storage tanks using purpose-built ROVs, enabling cleaning without draining tanks or human entry, suitable for challenging operational environments. Sold to water utilities and industrial operators.
• Hydrocarbon Removal Specialist removal of hydrocarbon contamination from drinking water storage tanks using the PM88 chemical formulation, deployed in emergency response situations such as fuel leak incidents. Sold to water utilities facing contamination events.
• Borehole Cleaning Cleaning and redevelopment of boreholes and wells using PM chemical formulations, including treatments through in-situ pumps to reduce site time and cost. Sold to water utilities and industrial operators.
• Emergency Response Service 24/7 emergency response service for water supply incidents including bacteriological failures, hydrocarbon contamination, cryptosporidium events and flooding, with same-day deployment capability. Sold to water utilities and industrial operators.
• PM Chemical Technology Service Proprietary portfolio of PM chemical formulations (PM88 for hydrocarbon removal, PM77 for filter cleaning, PM100 for membrane cleaning) developed over 25 years and applied as a specialist service for drinking water system cleaning. Sold alongside cleaning engagements to water utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 608 drinking water storage tanks cleaned and inspected in 2023/24 vs. target of 500 (22% overachievement)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scottish WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with Scottish Water under multiple framework agreements (Treated Water Storage Point Inspection and Cleaning Framework). Partnership has delivered exceptional results, including cleaning 608 tanks in 2023/24 vs. 500 target, and 632 inspections in 2024/25 accelerating a 5-year plan by nearly 2 years. Collaborative approach described as key to success.
• Abyss SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for the development and operation of the Platypus autonomous inspection platform for long-range aqueduct inspections. Partnership has delivered the largest remote autonomous digital aqueduct inspection to date on the Talla Aqueduct for Scottish Water, combining LiDAR and sonar data capture.
• AQS Environmental SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AQS Environmental Solutions for delivery of underwater robotic cleaning services in Ireland since 2016. Completed large programme of work from July to October 2022 with 57 combined days of robotic cleaning, 8,324 m2 floor area cleaned, and 82 Mega Litres of water saved.
• Welsh WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Ofwat Innovation Fund project (£1.4M) exploring local chemical regeneration of GAC filter media. Collaborative project also involving Panton McLeod's PM chemical technology, Swansea University, Severn Trent, and multiple other water companies.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Costain Group: Listed UK infrastructure contractor providing water asset services to major utilities including Severn Trent. A documented Panton McLeod client as a subcontractor, but also a potential competitor for integrated framework work.
• Doosan Enpure: Water and wastewater treatment specialist serving municipal and industrial clients with process design, build and asset services. Comparable as a tier-one water infrastructure contractor against which Panton McLeod often partners or competes at the framework level.
• Veolia Water Technologies: Global water and wastewater treatment specialist serving municipal and industrial clients with technology, chemicals and operational services. A broad incumbent whose municipal-utility footprint overlaps Panton McLeod's inspection and cleaning scope.
• MWH Treatment: UK water infrastructure contractor delivering design, build and maintenance services to water utilities. Competitor for inspection and cleaning frameworks, often with greater geographic and capability breadth.
• Imtech Water, Waste & Energy (now Equans): European technical services group with water and wastewater infrastructure capabilities serving utility and industrial clients. Broad incumbent operating across geographies that overlap Panton McLeod's UK/Ireland footprint.
• Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water services and technology provider offering water treatment, asset management and chemical services to utilities and industrial customers. Broad incumbent that competes with Panton McLeod at the framework level on integrated water solutions.

Direct peers

• Stonbury: Acquirer and now parent of Panton McLeod; a water and environment infrastructure services specialist founded in 1983 delivering inspection, maintenance and refurbishment to UK water utilities. Direct peer in core service lines, now operating as a combined entity.

Others

• Abyss Solutions: Autonomous underwater inspection technology partner that co-developed the Platypus platform with Panton McLeod. Included as a technology ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor, given its role as a capability partner.

Emerging players

• Hydro International: Water and wastewater treatment technology specialist focused on filtration, headworks and stormwater solutions. Adjacent technology peer for water treatment plant optimisation where Panton McLeod's RGF cleaning services operate.
• ChemAqua: Water treatment services provider offering cooling-tower, boiler and closed-loop cleaning and chemical programs to commercial and industrial customers. Adjacent niche in water asset hygiene and chemical cleaning services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pantonmcleod
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk2ellPNjkxIRWD18CUiWQQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pantonmcleod
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/panton-mcleod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Panton McLeod