Aqualia enters the Japanese market with a groundbreaking contract for the refurbishment and operation of the Toyohashi drinking water treatment plant
Aqualia enters the Japanese market with a groundbreaking contract for the refurbishment and operation of the Toyohashi drinking water treatment plant
- The contract includes the renovation of the Toyohashi Drinking Water Treatment Plant and the operation of this plant and an additional one for a total period of 30 years. The facility is located in Aichi Prefecture, about 300 kilometres west of Tokyo
- The contract introduces into Japan the hybrid BT (‘Build and Transfer’) model combined with a concession – a pioneering approach that will allow the construction of a state-of-the-art plant and ensure the treatment of more than 80,000 m³ of water per day
- Through this contractual model, Aqualia reinforces its commitment to innovation, end-to-end management and clean energy, consolidating its global leadership in resilient and sustainable infrastructure to address the challenges of the water sector
Aqualia, together with a consortium led by Infroneer Holdings Co., Ltd., has been awarded the contract for the renovation of the Toyohashi Water Treatment Plant. The contract includes the operation of this plant and an additional one, as well as their associated infrastructure, for a total period of 30 years. The facilities are located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, about 300 kilometres west of Tokyo. This agreement marks a historic milestone, as it is the first contract in Japan that combines the Build-Transfer (BT) scheme with a concession awarded to a group that includes a Western company. Furthermore, it represents Aqualia’s entry into the Japanese market, strengthening its international expansion strategy.
The Toyohashi plant, in operation since 1967, treats 80,000 m³ of water daily to supply the cities of Toyohashi, Toyokawa and Shinshiro, serving the Higashi Mikawa area (the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture). After more than five decades of service, the facilities require a comprehensive modernisation to improve efficiency and ensure resilience against the country’s high seismic activity.
The project will be developed under an innovative model in Japan: the combination of the Build-Transfer (BT) method with a concession system. This approach will enable the construction of a cutting-edge plant and the transfer of ownership to the prefecture, while operation and maintenance will be managed through a public-private partnership. This formula, unprecedented in Japan’s water sector, seeks to leverage private-sector expertise to guarantee a sustainable and efficient service.
The consortium’s proposal integrates advanced solutions to ensure a stable and resilient water supply, combining secure and efficient infrastructure based on state-of-the-art treatment technologies and optimised construction, with technological innovation through IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and intelligent monitoring systems. The model also incorporates crisis management, with an anti-seismic design under the “phase-free” concept, promotes hybrid energy with hydrogen to advance towards carbon neutrality, and proposes end-to-end management linking the water cycle with regional economic development.
By entering Japan, Aqualia consolidates an international presence that already spans 19 countries (Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Spain, United States, France, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Oman, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Czech Republic and Romania), providing services through sustainable infrastructure to more than 45 million people worldwide.
After years of strong expansion with milestones such as entry into the United States (2024) and Georgia (2022), Aqualia continues to drive its internationalisation, combining growth with financial strength. The international business already accounts for nearly half of the company’s total revenue, reaching €731 million at the end of 2024.
Aqualia is the water management company owned by the citizen services group FCC (51%) and the ethical Australian fund IFM Investors (49%). The company ranks as the fourth largest water company in Europe by population served and ninth worldwide, according to the latest Global Water Intelligence ranking (December 2024).