Waterbedrijf Groningen
Waterbedrijf Groningen N.V. is a regulated Dutch regional drinking water utility supplying approximately 296,355 active connections across 11 municipalities in the Province of Groningen via a 5,708 km pipeline network, owned by the Province of Groningen and Groningse municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersGroningen, Netherlands
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Waterbedrijf Groningen does
Waterbedrijf Groningen N.V. is a Dutch regional drinking water utility that supplies clean drinking water to approximately 296,355 active connections across 11 municipalities in the Province of Groningen and parts of Drenthe. The company operates four production locations — De Groeve (permit capacity 12 million m³/year, expanded in 2024), Sellingen (3.5 million m³/year permit, under renovation), De Punt in Glimmen, and Nietap — drawing from both groundwater and surface water sources including the Drentsche Aa. Finished water is distributed through a 5,708 km main pipeline network managed under an ISO 55001 certified asset management system, with 24/7 emergency response capability.
Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based water tariffs (€1.70/m³ for small consumers in 2024) plus connection fees, with FY2024 operating revenue of €80.4 million and net result of €1.3 million. The company operates under a regulated regional monopoly structure, owned entirely by the Province of Groningen and Groningse municipalities, with tariffs approved annually by the General Meeting of Shareholders. Beyond core drinking water supply, the company runs a customer self-service portal (Mijn Waterbedrijf), a conservation comparison tool (Bespaarcheck), public water tap points, and educational programs. Subsidiaries and joint ventures extend the operating perimeter into industrial water (North Water B.V. with Evides Industriewater, capacity doubling to 20 billion liters/year), district heating (WarmteStad B.V., WarmteCompagnie B.V.), and water laboratory services (WLN B.V. with WMD Drinkwater).
The company's technology stack combines conventional groundwater extraction and surface water treatment with operational enhancements including smart meters for large consumers (≥25 m³/hour), pressure sensor networks for early leak detection, underwater drone inspections of buried zinkers, and a reclaimed backwash water installation at Nietap. Strategic execution centers on the Watertransitie Groningen five-route program, targeting a maximum 6% non-revenue water rate by 2028, a 0% growth in business drinking water demand versus 2021 baseline, and a 5-liter-per-person-per-day reduction in residential consumption. The 2024 capital program of €50.2 million (up from €28.4 million in 2023) funds De Groeve expansion, Sellingen renovation, ASV source exploration, and infrastructure modernization.
Waterbedrijf Groningen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waterbedrijf Groningen
- Legal name
- N.V. Waterbedrijf Groningen
- Website
- https://waterbedrijfgroningen.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Waterbedrijf Groningen N.V. is a regulated Dutch regional drinking water utility supplying approximately 296,355 active connections across 11 municipalities in the Province of Groningen via a 5,708 km pipeline network, owned by the Province of Groningen and Groningse municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waterbedrijf Groningen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB), Treated Drinking Water Transmission Pipelines (Bulk Conveyance) (TLAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Waterbedrijf Groningen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Groningen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Waterbedrijf Groningen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Drinking water supply - small consumers: Revenue from supplying drinking water to residential and small commercial customers. Price per m³ for small consumers was €1.70 in 2024 (Vewin standard, based on 100 m³/year average household consumption). Revenue from water sales is the primary revenue stream, contributing to total operating revenues of €80.4 million in 2024.
- Drinking water supply - large/industrial consumers: Revenue from supplying drinking water to large-volume business customers (over 25 m³/hour connection capacity). Water sales to business customers, including municipalities and industrial clients in the Eemshaven area.
- Industrial water via North Water: North Water B.V. (joint venture with Evides Industriewater) provides industrial water alternatives to large industrial customers, reducing demand for drinking-water-quality water in production processes. North Water B.V. contributed €1.4 million to Waterbedrijf Groningen's result in 2024. Industrial water capacity from Garmerwolde facility is 10 billion liters/year, expanding to 20 billion liters.
- Water pipe tax (Belasting op Leidingwater): Waterbedrijf Groningen collects Belasting op Leidingwater (BoL) on behalf of the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst). BoL is levied over the first 300 m³ of water consumption per WOZ object per 12-month period. VAT is also applied to both water consumption and BoL. All collected taxes are remitted to the Belastingdienst.
- Connection fees and charges: Fees charged for new drinking water connections (applications submitted via mijnaansluiting.nl). Costs vary by connection type and required work. Requesting a quote is free; payment is due only upon acceptance of the quote. Current wait time for new connections is minimum 20 weeks. Prices are detailed in the company's Tarievenregeling (tariff regulation).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Annual | Small consumer (kleinverbruik) drinking water price: €1.70/m³ (2024) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | New drinking water connection fees - quote-based, variable by connection type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waterbedrijf Groningen produces and distributes clean drinking water through a 5,708 km pipeline network to approximately 296,355 active connections across 11 municipalities in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. The company extracts and treats both groundwater and surface water, manages billing, customer service, infrastructure maintenance, 24/7 emergency response, water conservation programs, and provides industrial water alternatives via its North Water B.V. joint venture.
Product overview
Waterbedrijf Groningen is a regional water utility company that operates as a single integrated business rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company provides drinking water supply and distribution services to approximately 296,355 active connections across the Groningen province, with complementary customer-facing digital services and educational/community programs. Core products include drinking water production and distribution, while the customer-facing portfolio consists of the 'Mijn Waterbedrijf' online portal, the 'Bespaarcheck' water comparison tool, and the 'Waterwinnaars' community conservation campaign. Supporting services include public water tap points, visitor center 'Het Blauwe Huis', emergency water provision, and educational programs. The company also operates through subsidiaries including North Water (industrial water with Evides Industriewater) and has stakes in WarmteStad and WLN water laboratory.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Waterwinnaars: Club campaign making water conservation a sport, encouraging Groningers to save water
- Wotter uut Grunn
- Watertransitie Groningen
Products and services
- Drinking water supply (residential and small commercial) Core drinking water service supplied to households and small commercial customers through the company's 5,708 km pipeline network across 11 Groningen municipalities. Customers are billed per cubic meter of water consumed.
- Drinking water supply (large business customers) Bulk drinking water supply for large business customers consuming 25 m³ per hour or more, with dedicated account management and tailored service contracts.
- Industrial water (North Water B.V.) Alternative water supply for industry in the northern Netherlands, providing non-potable industrial water for companies that do not require drinking-water quality, thereby reducing pressure on drinking water resources.
- Drinkwateraansluiting (new water connection service) Installation service for new drinking water connections to residential and commercial properties, including standard and custom connection sizes, with associated connection fees (aansluitbijdrage).
- Nooddrinkwater (emergency drinking water service)
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced NIRG (non-revenue water) target: maximum 6% annually through 2028
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Waterbedrijf Groningen
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- North Water B.V.coreJoint venture with Evides Industriewater B.V. providing industrial water alternatives to large industrial customers in the Eemshaven and Delfzijl areas. Waterbedrijf Groningen supplies industrial-quality water (not suitable for drinking) at lower cost, reducing pressure on drinking water sources. Industrial water facility at Garmerwolde has 10 billion liters/year capacity, expanding to 20 billion liters. Contributed €1.4 million to Waterbedrijf Groningen's 2024 result.
- WarmteStad B.V.coreJoint venture with Gemeente Groningen contributing to a CO₂-neutral city through sustainable heating (and cooling) supply. WarmteStad serves approximately 8,000 households and buildings via a heat network. Waterbedrijf Groningen Duurzaam holds a stake in this venture. Contributed €-4.1 million to Waterbedrijf Groningen's 2024 result (negative contribution).
- WLN B.V. (Waterlaboratorium Noord)coreJoint venture with WMD Drinkwater N.V. for water laboratory services. WLN provides water quality testing and analysis services. Joint initiatives include Girls' Day events to promote water sector careers to young women and RT-PCR testing method development for water quality monitoring.
- WarmteCompagnie B.V.minorMinority participation (deelneming) with Gemeente Midden-Groningen for heat/cold supply activities in the Midden-Groningen region.
- Stichting Water for LifeminorFoundation initiated by Dutch water companies including Waterbedrijf Groningen, providing clean drinking water access to people in impoverished areas worldwide. Waterbedrijf Groningen participates in fundraising activities such as the DelfSail 2024 campaign, raising €2,435 for 135 people receiving clean water.
- Gemeente GroningencoreMajor municipal shareholder (93 shares) and service territory partner. Manages heat network via WarmteStad joint venture. Collaborates on infrastructure projects including shared trenching for utilities and district-level emergency preparedness.
- Provincie Groningen and Provincie DrenthecoreProvincial governments as shareholders and regulatory partners. Province of Groningen holds 28 shares. Both provinces collaborate on water source protection, ASV (Aanvullende Strategische Voorraden) exploration for new water sources, drought management, and the Watertransitie Groningen program.
- Enexis, Coteq, Rendo, Vitens, WMD, VodafoneZiggocoreEight-year joint infrastructure collaboration (Grond'g consortium) for underground utility work (energy, drinking water, telecom) in Noord-Oost Nederland. Combines cable and pipe laying projects to reduce disruption and costs. Includes collaborative contractor management and framework agreements.
- LTO NoordminorAgricultural sector organization collaborating on land use near water extraction areas. Particularly active in the Drentsche Aa region where 45 farmers participate in buffer strip programs protecting groundwater sources. LTO Noord and Waterbedrijf Groningen jointly agreed on a four-year compensation scheme for participating farmers.
- Waterschap Hunze en Aa's and Waterschap NoorderzijlvestminorWater boards collaborating on the 'Leven met Water' (Living with Water) campaign and groundwater protection initiatives. Joint awareness campaign for groundwater protection areas launched in April 2024.
- RTV NoordminorRegional broadcaster partnering on the 'Mien Toentje' series (starting May 2026) providing practical gardening tips for water conservation. Collaboration includes Waterbedrijf Groningen, the province, and water boards.
- DonkerGroenminorNature and terrain management partner, providing groundskeeping services for 40 years (since 1984). Manages natural areas around production locations, contributing to biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
- Evides Industriewater B.V.coreCo-founder of North Water B.V. joint venture alongside Waterbedrijf Groningen. Evides supplies industrial water solutions to large industrial clients in the Eemshaven region, complementing Waterbedrijf Groningen's drinking water operations.
- WMD DrinkwatercoreNeighboring water utility in Drenthe. Collaboration on water pipeline interconnection near Eexterveen to ensure mutual supply security. Joint participation in WLN B.V. water laboratory joint venture.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oasen: Drinking water utility serving the Gouda, Alphen aan den Rijn and surrounding South Holland region. Comparable in operating a smaller-scale regulated provincial drinking water utility with groundwater-sourced production.
- Brabant Water: Drinking water utility serving the province of North Brabant, supplying ~2.5 million customers. Comparable as a regulated provincial drinking water utility with similar groundwater extraction and treatment infrastructure.
- Waternet: Water utility for Amsterdam and surrounding areas, combining drinking water supply with wastewater and waterway management. Comparable in providing regulated municipal drinking water services and managing extensive pipeline infrastructure, though on a much larger scale and in a different geography.
- Dunea: Drinking water utility for South Holland region (Duin- en Bollenstreek, Leiden area), sourcing from dune infiltration. Comparable in operating a regulated provincial water supply with significant natural source protection obligations.
- Evides: Drinking water utility for Zeeland and South Holland, and Waterbedrijf Groningen's co-partner in the North Water B.V. industrial water JV. Comparable in operating a regulated provincial drinking water network and a separate industrial water business line.
- WMD Drinkwater: Drinking water utility serving Drenthe province, directly adjacent to Waterbedrijf Groningen's territory. Operates the same regulated utility model with comparable size, and the two companies co-own the WLN B.V. water laboratory JV and operate a pipeline interconnection near Eexterveen for mutual supply security.
- Vitens: Largest drinking water utility in the Netherlands serving over 5.6 million customers. Direct peer as a provincial-scale regulated water utility operating a similar groundwater/surface water treatment and distribution model; Vitens is a co-partner in the 8-year Grond'g infrastructure consortium with Waterbedrijf Groningen.
- PWN: Drinking water utility for North Holland, providing treated surface water from the IJsselmeer to ~1.8 million customers. Comparable in being a publicly owned provincial drinking water utility with significant treatment and distribution infrastructure investments.
Broad incumbents
- Engie (industrial water / utilities): Large global utility and energy services group. Relevant as a broad incumbent in industrial water/wastewater treatment services, comparable to Waterbedrijf Groningen's North Water JV activity in the Eemshaven industrial cluster.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Global water treatment technology and services provider. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial water treatment solutions, with overlapping capabilities to North Water B.V.'s industrial water supply to Eemshaven and Delfzijl customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Waterbedrijf Groningen social profiles
Digital presenceWaterbedrijf Groningen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waterbedrijf Groningen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Waterbedrijf Groningen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waterbedrijf Groningen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Waterbedrijf Groningen
What does Waterbedrijf Groningen do?
Waterbedrijf Groningen produces and distributes clean drinking water through a 5,708 km pipeline network to approximately 296,355 active connections across 11 municipalities in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. The company extracts and treats both groundwater and surface water, manages billing, customer service, infrastructure maintenance, 24/7 emergency response, water conservation programs, and provides industrial water alternatives via its North Water B.V. joint venture.
Is Waterbedrijf Groningen a public or private company?
Waterbedrijf Groningen is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Waterbedrijf Groningen founded?
Waterbedrijf Groningen was founded in 1964. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Waterbedrijf Groningen based?
Waterbedrijf Groningen is headquartered in Groningen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Waterbedrijf Groningen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Drinking water supply - small consumers are the primary driver. The others are drinking water supply - large/industrial consumers, industrial water via North Water, water pipe tax (Belasting op Leidingwater) and connection fees and charges.
Who are Waterbedrijf Groningen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oasen, Brabant Water, Waternet, Dunea, Evides, WMD Drinkwater, Vitens and PWN. Broad incumbents are Engie (industrial water / utilities) and Veolia Water Technologies.
Does Waterbedrijf Groningen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waterbedrijf Groningen.
What industry is Waterbedrijf Groningen in?
Waterbedrijf Groningen's product category is Water Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAG, Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration, with a secondary code of EUANAAAB, Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations). Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.