European investment group Eurazeo has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Water Direct, the UK’s leading provider of alternative water supply solutions for utilities, businesses and the public sector.
Headquartered in Colchester, Essex, Water Direct delivers a wide range of services including potable water tankering, bulk and bottled-water logistics, emergency supply, and temporary water infrastructure. The company also provides WaterTight, its resilience-as-a-service assurance programme supporting planned and unplanned supply interruptions.
Founded in 1996, Water Direct has become a key national partner for maintaining access to clean and safe water during operational works, incidents and supply challenges. Its expansion has been supported by investment in fleet capacity, digital monitoring tools and a growing national depot network.
Investment to Accelerate Growth and Strengthen National Resilience
Eurazeo’s investment will be made through the Eurazeo Transition Infrastructure Fund (ETIF). The partnership aims to support Water Direct’s next phase of growth by expanding its fleet, strengthening logistics capabilities and accelerating digital transformation. The investment is also intended to enhance national resilience by improving the reliability and responsiveness of alternative water supply services across the UK.
This transaction marks the eighth investment by Eurazeo’s Infrastructure team and supports the group’s sustainability objectives, particularly in climate adaptation and ensuring access to clean water.
“Water Direct has become a trusted partner to utilities and businesses by providing essential resilience services and maintaining consistently high service standards. We see significant long-term potential in supporting the company’s next phase of sustainable growth, and we look forward to working with the team as it expands both its offering and its coverage,” said Melissa Cohen, co-head of infrastructure at Eurazeo.
Adam Johnson, Chief Executive of Water Direct, added: “This partnership is a strong endorsement of the critical services our customers rely on every day. With Eurazeo’s backing, we will scale responsibly, expanding capacity, strengthening our nationwide response capabilities and continuing to invest in digital innovation, all with the aim of delivering an even better customer experience across our diverse client base.”
