ACWA

What ACWA does

ACWA Services Limited is a UK-based engineering contractor that designs, builds, and commissions water and wastewater treatment plants for UK water utilities and industrial customers, founded in 1986 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Contractors Group (CCC) since 1991. The company is headquartered in Skipton, North Yorkshire, with regional offices in Dubai (ACWA Emirates LLC) and London, generating approximately £30m of annual turnover.

The company's commercial offering rests on a portfolio of five proprietary treatment technologies—Nitreat® (ion-exchange nitrate removal), Amtreat® (high-rate ammonia removal), AquaPyr™ (pile cloth media filtration), MOB™ (mobile organic biofilm, held under exclusive UK/Ireland licence from Nuvoda), and MEMTREAT® (membrane bioreactor)—supported by in-house design, off-site manufacture, commissioning, and project management services. Customers span all major UK water companies (Anglian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Scottish Water, Southern Water, Wessex Water) and industrial food and beverage manufacturers including Coors, Nestlé, Kellogg's, JTI, and Bairds Malt.

Revenue is earned through competitive tenders, framework appointments (e.g., Anglian Water AMP8-9 Nitrate Removal Framework), and subcontractor roles on tier-1 capital-delivery partnerships (CMDP, C2V+, KMI, Doosan Enpure). Contract values range from £3.5m to £50m per project, with longer-term service and maintenance work providing recurring engagement. International expansion is being pursued via the parent's CCC network, notably through a multi-million-dollar, ten-year digitalization partnership with Thinkproject covering the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.

Name

ACWA

Legal name

ACWA Services Limited

Website

https://acwa.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACWA Services Limited designs, builds, and commissions water and wastewater treatment plants for UK water utilities and industrial food-and-beverage clients using proprietary technologies such as Nitreat®, Amtreat®, AquaPyr™, MOB™, and MEMTREAT®, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering Services

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment & Treatment Services (BPALAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment (Clarifiers, Aeration, Membrane Systems) (IMAHAEAJ), Industrial Wastewater Reuse (Cooling/Process/Boiler Feed) (EUANADAM), Industrial Wastewater & Effluent Treatment Services (BPALAHAD)

Keywords

• Water treatment solutions
• Wastewater treatment engineering
• Nitrate removal systems
• Ammonia removal technology
• Municipal water utilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Skipton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Build Projects: Turnkey mechanical and electrical project delivery for water and wastewater treatment works. Includes civil works, process design, equipment supply, installation, and commissioning. Revenue is project-based, typically through competitive tendering with water utilities.
2. Technology Licensing and Equipment Supply: Supply of proprietary treatment technologies including Nitreat®, Amtreat®, and AquaPyr™ systems. Equipment includes membrane systems, filtration units, scraper bridges, and DAF systems. Revenue from equipment supply and technology licensing.
3. Exclusive Technology Distribution: Exclusive licensing agent for Nuvoda's MOB™ patented technology in UK and Irish markets. Revenue generated from technology deployment, commissioning, and ongoing support services.
4. Framework and Maintenance Services: Multi-year framework appointments (e.g., Anglian Water AMP8-9 Nitrate Removal Framework) providing ongoing project delivery. Service and maintenance contracts for installed systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACWA designs, builds, and commissions water and wastewater treatment plants for UK water utilities and industrial clients using proprietary treatment technologies (Nitreat®, Amtreat®, MOB™, AquaPyr™, MEMTREAT®). The company delivers turnkey mechanical, electrical, civil, and process engineering projects including nitrate removal, ammonia removal, membrane filtration, and bio-solids handling, with services spanning design, procurement, off-site manufacture, installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance under framework agreements.

Product overview

ACWA is a UK-based provider of innovative sustainable process solutions and technologies for municipal and industrial clean water, wastewater, and bio-solids treatment. The company operates a platform of proprietary treatment technologies including Nitreat® (ion exchange nitrate removal), AquaPyr™ (tertiary solids removal filter), MOB™ (mobile organic biofilm wastewater treatment), Amtreat® (high-rate ammonia removal), and MEMTREAT® (membrane bio reactor), supported by Design and Build, Commissioning, and Project Management services. ACWA serves water, wastewater, industrial effluent, and food and beverage sectors with comprehensive products portfolio including grit removal, settlement equipment, aeration systems, and dewatering solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nitreat®: Ion Exchange Nitrate Removal Technology - reversible process for nitrate removal from water with no substantial structural changes.
• Amtreat®
• AquaPyr™
• MOB™ (Mobile Organic Biofilm)
• Memtreat®

Products and services

• Nitreat® Proprietary ion exchange nitrate removal technology for drinking water treatment, using continuous counter-current operation to optimize nitrate absorption and softened water usage. Over 38 plants installed in the UK with 228 MLD total network capacity; largest plant is Keldgate WTW at 90 MLD.
• Amtreat® High-rate activated sludge process for treating wastewater streams and sludge liquors containing high concentrations of ammonia, achieving over 98% ammonia removal efficiency. First applied to UK municipal WwTW and now in its seventh plant (Leigh WWTP for United Utilities). Can utilize existing redundant structures to reduce capital requirements.
• AquaPyr™ Pile cloth media filter for tertiary solids removal using vacuum head cleaning technology, producing less than 0.5% backwash waste compared to traditional filters' 2-18%. Available in sizes treating 5m³/h to 80m³/h (up to 2000 PE), with optional phosphorus removal via precipitation and flocculation.
• MOB™ (Mobile Organic Biofilm) Nature-based sustainable wastewater treatment process using mobile organic biofilm media from lignocellulosic kenaf plant fiber (machined to 500 microns). Provides process intensification including increased treatment capacity, simultaneous nutrient removal, improved settleability, and optimized process stability. ACWA is exclusive UK and Irish market agent under licensing agreement with Nuvoda (Raleigh, North Carolina).
• MEMTREAT® Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) technology providing small-footprint wastewater treatment with high-quality permeate output suitable for water reuse. Deployed at industrial sites including Bateman's Brewery and Japanese Tobacco International.
• Design and Build Services In-house design capability using 3D modeling, civil, mechanical, process, and electrical engineering with off-site manufacture (DfMA) for water and wastewater treatment projects. Delivered as turnkey mechanical, electrical and process projects under competitive tendering and framework agreements.
• Commissioning Services Comprehensive commissioning services for complex water and wastewater facilities including system design, electrical testing, operations and maintenance handover, and process diagnostics.
• Project Management Services Project management services ensuring regulatory compliance while maintaining focus on project delivery, risk management, and quality standards for water and wastewater treatment projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ammonia removal efficiency >96-98%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ThinkprojectcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 February 2026Strategic digitalization partnership for a multi-million-dollar, ten-year engagement. Thinkproject's platform will enable real-time digital handover from construction, provide portfolio-wide visibility across projects, and support faster delivery and operational performance across ACWA's global asset portfolio. Partnership covers Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and China.
• NuvodacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerExclusive partnership to bring Nuvoda's patented MOB™ (Mobile Organic Biofilm) Process Technology to the UK and Irish Municipal and Industrial markets. ACWA is exclusive agent for the technology, which uses a renewable lignocellulosic fiber (kenaf plant) as biofilm growth medium. Nuvoda headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Northumbrian WaterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOB technology implementation partner for sustainable wastewater treatment. Joint presentation at EWWM conference on 'Putting MOB to the Test: How a Sustainable Crop Intensifies Treatment for Northumbrian Water STWs'.
• CMDP (Carollo/MMÜ JV for Southern Water)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoint delivery of nitrate removal plants for Southern Water at multiple sites (Wingham, Flemings Road, Martin Gorse). CMDP is the capital delivery partner for Southern Water; ACWA provides Nitreat® ion exchange technology and installation.
• C2V+ (CH2M/VekerStevin JV)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerC2V+ is United Utilities Capital Delivery partner that awarded ACWA subcontract for mechanical and instrument portion of IFAS system at Ellesmere Port WwTW (£24m upgrade).
• WGM (Strategic Partner for Scottish Water)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking as strategic partner with WGM to help deliver Scottish Water's Scraper Bridge Framework.
• Doosan EnpureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and build subcontract awarded by Doosan Enpure for Strongford WwTW liquor treatment plant utilizing Amtreat® technology.
• KMI (United Utilities Tier 1 Contractor)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKMI tasked with supervising Leigh WWTP site wide upgrade including provision of high rate ammonia treatment solution; awarded ACWA design and construct subcontract.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jacobs: Major global consultancy and engineering firm operating extensive UK water utility frameworks (including with Thames Water and United Utilities). Competes at the Tier-1 capital-delivery partner level that subcontracts to firms like ACWA.
• AtkinsRéalis (formerly Atkins / SNC-Lavalin): Global design and engineering consultancy with a substantial UK water business delivering process design, capital programme advisory and framework support to UK utilities. Competes for technical advisory and design roles adjacent to ACWA's process delivery.
• Veolia Water Technologies: Global water-treatment technology and EPC incumbent offering Hydrex, AnoxKaldnes MBBR and proprietary Actiflo/Memcor systems across the UK municipal and industrial market. Overlaps directly with ACWA's Nitreat®/Amtreat®/MEMTREAT® offerings at much larger scale.
• Black & Veatch: Global EPC and process engineering firm with a significant UK water practice delivering treatment plant design-build and process upgrades for major utilities. Competes for large framework commissions but at greater scale and breadth.
• Mott MacDonald: International engineering consultancy with a large UK water practice, partnering with utilities and EPC contractors on treatment plant design. Often acts as owner's engineer opposite ACWA's process-engineering role on framework bids.
• Suez Water Technologies & Solutions: International water-treatment technology and services group supplying ZeeWeed MBR, ozonation and biological treatment systems to UK utilities and industrial clients. Competes for the same DBO/DB framework slots ACWA targets.

Direct peers

• Doosan Enpure: UK-headquartered process engineering contractor competing directly with ACWA in municipal water and wastewater design-build, and referenced as an ACWA subcontractor partner. Both firms pursue activated-sludge/biological treatment upgrades for UK water utilities.
• WGM Engineering: Scotland-based mechanical and process engineering contractor active on Scottish Water and other UK utility frameworks, named as an ACWA partner on the Scottish Water Scraper Bridge Framework. Directly competes for the same MEICA framework work.
• KMI (Kelvin McIntosh): UK water-sector MEICA contractor acting as Tier-1 for United Utilities and awarding design-and-construct subcontracts (including to ACWA). Competes head-to-head on wastewater treatment plant upgrades and framework delivery.

Emerging players

• Nuvoda: US-based MOB™ Mobile Organic Biofilm technology owner; ACWA is its exclusive UK/Ireland licensee. Comparable in process technology focus and biofilm/MBBR category, and a strategic partner rather than pure competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACWA_Services
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACWAServices

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ACWA