What AquaPlus does

AquaPlus AG is a Swiss environmental consulting firm headquartered in Zug, founded in 1990, specializing in water ecology and applied aquatic protection. The company serves Swiss federal agencies (notably BAFU), 12+ cantonal environmental offices, municipalities, hydropower operators, conservation NGOs (Pro Natura, WWF Switzerland), and research institutions (EAWAG, ZHAW). Its service portfolio spans bioindication, fish and water-plant ecology, stream and lake revitalization, flood protection, hydropower environmental consulting, settlement drainage, ecotoxicology, amphibian protection, and climate-change adaptation advisory. The firm has developed proprietary methodologies including MESAV+ for standardized underwater plant mapping and the Fischökologisches Potenzial (FÖP) fish habitat model, supported by an in-house biology laboratory, diving infrastructure, drone/UAV survey capability, GIS analysis, eDNA analysis, and PIT-tagging technology. AquaPlus maintains a proprietary biological database (BIS AquaPlus) and a reference library of approximately 35,000 documents built up over more than 30 years of continuous monitoring contracts.

The firm operates on a project-based professional services model, delivering consulting engagements directly to clients without intermediaries. Revenue derives from environmental impact assessments, long-term monitoring programs, revitalization planning, and ecological construction supervision, with no public pricing. Distribution is entirely direct, supported by thought-leadership content including a dedicated blog, scientific publications, and co-led training courses with EAWAG (PEAK) and ZHAW (CAS). The company is privately held, founder/management-owned with no external investors, and has grown to approximately 30 interdisciplinary specialists. Its market is domestic Switzerland, with active engagements across most major cantons.

Name

AquaPlus

Legal name

AquaPlus AG

Website

https://aquaplus.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AquaPlus AG is a Zug-based Swiss environmental consulting firm founded in 1990, employing ~30 specialists in water ecology, bioindication, and aquatic habitat restoration for federal agencies, cantons, municipalities, hydropower operators, and conservation NGOs across Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Environmental consulting
• Water ecology services
• Aquatic ecosystem assessment
• Bioindication surveys
• Habitat revitalization planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Zug

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for government agencies, municipalities, and private organizations. Services include environmental impact assessments, water quality monitoring, habitat surveys, revitalization planning, and ecological construction supervision.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AquaPlus is a Swiss environmental consulting firm providing project-based advisory and planning services focused on water bodies. The firm delivers ecological assessments, bioindication, water quality monitoring, habitat surveys, river/lake revitalization planning, flood protection consulting, hydropower environmental advisory, and settlement drainage planning, supported by in-house diving, laboratory, GIS, drone, and eDNA capabilities.

Product overview

AquaPlus is an environmental consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of water ecology and aquatic ecosystem services. The company operates as a single unified consulting practice rather than a modular software product, providing specialized expertise across fish ecology, bioindication, water plant surveys, habitat assessment, and environmental construction supervision. Core service areas include revitalization planning, flood protection, hydropower consulting, settlement drainage, and climate change adaptation for aquatic systems. Key methodological tools include the proprietary MESAV+ water plant mapping system, fish ecological potential (FÖP) modeling, GIS analyses, drone surveys, eDNA analysis, and the BIS AquaPlus biological database. The company also supports eco-electricity certification for hydropower operators and provides specialized amphibian protection and ecotoxicology assessment services. Services are delivered by a team of approximately 30 environmental specialists combining ecological expertise with practical field experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bioindication (Bioindikation) Assessment of water quality and ecosystem health using living organisms (aquatic invertebrates, algae/diatoms, fish, and water plants) as indicators, delivered to government agencies, cantonal offices, and research institutions.
• Water and Fish Ecology Consulting (Gewässerökologie) Expert consulting in fish ecology, aquatic ecosystem analysis, habitat modeling, fish population assessments, and ecological monitoring of flowing and standing waters for public agencies and hydropower operators.
• Habitat Revitalization Planning (Revitalisierungen) Planning and implementation of river, stream, and lakeshore restoration projects to improve aquatic habitats and ecological connectivity, delivered to cantonal offices and municipalities.
• Ecological Flood Protection Consulting (Hochwasserschutz) Ecological planning and construction supervision for flood protection projects, integrating water engineering with environmental considerations for cantons and municipalities.
• Hydropower Environmental Consulting (Wasserkraft) Environmental consulting for hydropower facilities covering fish passage, residual water assessments, habitat modeling, and ecological impact assessments for concessions and renovations, delivered to operators such as ewz and Birs Wasserkraft AG.
• Settlement Drainage Planning (Siedlungsentwässerung / GEP) Planning and assessment of urban drainage systems (GEP/VGEP/REP) with focus on water quality and aquatic ecology in receiving waters, delivered to municipalities.
• Environmental Construction Supervision (Umweltbaubegleitung) Ecological supervision during construction projects to ensure environmental compliance, including protection of aquatic habitats and species, for public clients executing water-related works.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (UVB / Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung) Environmental impact assessments and feasibility studies for water-related construction and development projects, delivered to public authorities and developers.
• Climate Change Consulting for Aquatic Ecosystems (Klimawandel-Beratung) Advisory services on climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems, including fish heat-stress mitigation, water temperature monitoring, and adaptation strategies for federal and cantonal authorities.
• EcoPower Certification Support (Ökostrom-Zertifizierung) Support for hydropower operators in obtaining naturemade star eco-electricity certification, including management concepts and expert audits, delivered to operators such as ewz.
• Amphibian Protection Consulting (Amphibienschutz)

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous monitoring programs spanning over 20 years for various cantonal environmental offices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BAFU (Federal Office for the Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Pilot program on climate adaptation with focus on fish protection during heat events. Development of working guide for fish protection measures during heat waves, working with cantonal authorities.
• Pro NaturacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaboration on moor regeneration projects including Wolfschachen at Biberbrugg. AquaPlus provides technical planning and construction management for Pro Natura's moor restoration initiatives aimed at rewetting drained peatlands.
• WWF SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Joint project 'Gewässerperlen' to identify, validate, and document ecologically valuable water sections in Switzerland. GIS analyses and expert evaluation of significant aquatic habitats.
• ewz (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ongoing collaboration on naturemade star eco-electricity certification for hydroelectric plants. Management concepts, recertification, and residual water assessments for various Grisons hydroelectric plants.
• VSAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Co-leadership of 'Blick ins Gewässer' professional development courses in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022 for water sector professionals.
• EAWAGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011Collaboration on lake shore evaluation methodology development (Module-Stufen-Konzept). Co-leadership of PEAK advanced courses in aquatic ecology, diatoms, water plants, and bioindication since 1997.
• ZHAWminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011Professional training partnership for CAS courses in Phytobenthos - Water Plants & Algae. AquaPlus provides technical leadership and instruction for the modular coursework.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Limnofisch: German consultancy focused on fish ecological potential assessments, fish passage, and PIT-tag studies that mirrors AquaPlus's FÖP and PIT-tagging methodology niche across the DACH region.
• LimnAqua GmbH: German consultancy specializing in limnology, fish ecology, and water body assessments with comparable bioindication and field-survey services, serving a similar public-sector client base but operating primarily in Germany.

Broad incumbents

• AFRY: Multinational engineering and design consultancy with a large European environment and water practice, frequently competing on Swiss/EU water infrastructure and hydropower mandates larger than AquaPlus's scope.
• WSP Global: Global professional services firm with an established environment and water resources practice participating on large program management and EIA mandates that overlap with AquaPlus's federal-tier opportunities.
• Arcadis NV: Global design and consultancy firm with significant water, climate adaptation, and biodiversity practices, often competing on European-scale environmental tenders adjacent to AquaPlus's federal monitoring work.
• Ramboll Group: Nordic-origin global consultancy with a sizable water and environment practice addressing climate adaptation, biodiversity, and EIA projects comparable to AquaPlus's regulatory and ecological monitoring services.

Direct peers

• EBP Schweiz AG (Ernst Basler + Partner): Swiss consulting firm with environmental planning and risk practice addressing water resources, infrastructure, and climate adaptation for public-sector clients comparable to AquaPlus's cantonal focus.
• Holinger AG: Swiss engineering and environmental consultancy with a strong water and wastewater practice serving cantonal and municipal clients, making it the closest like-for-like peer to AquaPlus in the Swiss public-sector water consulting market.
• Basler & Hofmann AG: Swiss engineering firm with environmental, water ecology, and revitalization practices delivering project-based services to cantonal and municipal authorities in overlapping domains (flood protection, EIA, habitat surveys).
• Stucky AG: Swiss water engineering consultancy working on hydropower, flood protection, and water resource projects for cantons and utilities, overlapping with AquaPlus on hydropower ecology and revitalization planning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 AquaPlus