Should you invest in your own water treatment installation, or outsource it through a service model? Every industrial company that uses water in its production process will face this choice sooner or later.
This question is becoming increasingly relevant as growing pressure on the water ecosystem, driven by water scarcity, climate change, and urbanization, continues to affect businesses. Stricter discharge regulations and ESG targets are also making water treatment an increasingly strategic and financial decision.
Ekopak offers two options: the traditional one-off installation, which you purchase and manage yourself, or Water-as-a-Service (WaaS®), where you only pay for the water you actually consume, based on a predetermined minimum volume and contract term.
What is a one-off water treatment installation?
A one-off installation is a water or wastewater treatment installation that is owned and managed by the customer. The installation is fully customized and designed and built for one specific company. Ekopak is responsible for the design, construction, and commissioning. After handover, the company manages the installation itself, with the option of additional support through a maintenance or service contract.
Key features of a one-off installation:
- One-time, full investment
- Full ownership and control
- Custom-designed to meet the company’s exact specifications
- In-house personnel required for operation, maintenance, and monitoring
- Option to rely on Ekopak for a service or maintenance contract
What is Water-as-a-Service (WaaS®)?
Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) is Ekopak’s service model in which the company does not purchase an installation, but instead commits to purchasing water. Ekopak takes care of financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the installation at the customer’s site. The customer only pays for the water actually consumed, based on a predetermined minimum volume and contract term of at least 10 years.
Key features of a WaaS installation:
- CAPEX: No upfront investment required; you pay per cubic meter of water consumed
- Fully managed: Ekopak designs, builds, operates, and manages the installation 24/7
- Continuous optimization of the installation using the latest technologies
- Containerized, modular design for rapid implementation or installation within a customer’s existing building
- No need for in-house technical personnel to operate or maintain the installation
- On average, 30–40% lower water costs compared with conventional water supply
- Also available for wastewater treatment installations (Wastewater-as-a-Service)
- Deployable worldwide thanks to its modular design and remote monitoring capabilities
Since 2020, our WaaS installations have collectively saved more than 17 million m³ of municipal water.
WaaS vs. one-off: the key differences at a glance
| WaaS | One-off installation | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Ekopak supplies treated water to the customer. Ekopak provides the financing, design, construction, and operation of the installation. | Ekopak supplies and installs the installation at the customer’s site. The customer is responsible for financing and operating it. |
| Ownership | Owned by Ekopak, but can be transferred to the customer at any time. | Owned by the customer. |
| Operation & maintenance | Maintenance and all associated costs are fully covered by Ekopak, including 24/7 monitoring. | Operation and maintenance are handled by the customer, with the option to rely on Ekopak for a service contract. |
| Capex | No capital investment required from the customer. | Capital investment required from the customer. |
| Payment | Monthly payment based on the volume of water consumed, with an agreed minimum volume. Easy to forecast. | Customer pays variable and fixed costs, including costs incurred during equipment downtime or operator errors. |
| Risk | Minimum 10-year contract term, with guaranteed installation performance and required water quality. Operational risk lies with Ekopak. | No guarantee of installation performance. Operational risk lies with the customer. |
Benefits of WaaS: when is it the best choice?
WaaS is particularly attractive for companies that want certainty of water supply without tying up capital in technical infrastructure. WaaS can be especially relevant when:
- There is limited capacity or willingness to invest in in-house infrastructure, or there is uncertainty in the current macroeconomic environment
- Reliability: Water is always available, even during drought, climate change, and water scarcity
- Water demand can fluctuate, for example due to growth, seasonal production, or temporary capacity expansion
- Internal technical teams would rather focus on their core activities than on water management
- Installation performance and the required water quality are guaranteed. Innovative technologies are used to minimize the installation’s environmental footprint as much as possible
AGC Mol optimizes water treatment with WaaS
Glass manufacturer AGC Mol, part of the global AGC Group, chose a WaaS installation to optimize its water treatment without having to invest in infrastructure itself. Read the full AGC Mol customer case.
Benefits of a one-off installation: when is this the best choice?
A one-off installation remains the logical choice when:
- Sufficient in-house technical expertise is available to operate and manage the installation
- Water demand is highly stable and predictable over the long term
- Full, independent control over the installation is a requirement
- Long-term ownership of the infrastructure is strategically important
How do you choose between WaaS and a one-off installation?
The right choice depends on a combination of factors: available capital, technical personnel, the predictability of water consumption, and the level of operational support the company requires.
Both WaaS and a one-off installation can help companies address water scarcity, reduce costs, and achieve their sustainability goals.
Our engineers assess each project individually and provide recommendations based on the specific situation and needs of your company.
Not sure which option is right for you? Contact Ekopak for a no-obligation consultation, or learn more about Water-as-a-Service (WaaS).