Financing

Aquafin finances its projects for the Flemish Region with the support of strong partners and investors. Together, we create clean waterways and sustainable infrastructure that benefit all of Flanders.

  • The Flemish Region and Aquafin
  • Municipalities and Aquafin
  • Industry and Aquaplus
  • Contact

The Flemish Region and Aquafin

Prefinancing: at the heart of our mission

When the Flemish Region established Aquafin in 1990, only a third of household waste water was treated. Since then, we have prefunded all projects for the Region, enabling accelerated development and management of waste water treatment infrastructure. This role is reflected in our name: the “fin” in Aquafin refers to financing. For every project, Aquafin seeks prefinancing to minimise the impact of large-scale investments on public budgets, ensuring Flanders can continue investing in clean waterways and a healthy living environment.

Tailored financing for each project

Aquafin accesses financial markets to fund its projects. Completed infrastructure is financed through long-term loans, while projects under construction are supported with short-term financing.

Stability through clear agreements

All of Aquafin's shares are owned by Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV). Our responsibilities are defined in a rolling 20-year cooperation agreement with the Flemish Region. In addition, an allocation agreement exists between the Flemish Region, Aquafin, the European Investment Bank, and Belfius Bank, with Belfius acting as agent. These arrangements provide investors with a stable and transparent financing framework.

Green investing with Aquafin

Our Green Finance Framework provides investors with clarity and certainty about the sustainability of the projects we seek to finance. Our projects improve water quality and enhance community resilience to drought and flooding. Investments in disconnection, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation deliver both measurable impact and societal value.

Municipalities and Aquafin

Aquafin helps Flemish towns, cities and municipalities to fulfil their environmental obligations, either independently or in collaboration with a drinking water company, competing with other sewer operators. Municipal projects are invoiced directly to the municipalities concerned, keeping their financing entirely separate from that of the Flemish Region.

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    Vlaamse steden en gemeenten

    Intussen vertrouwen meer dan 150 Vlaamse steden en gemeenten op de expertise van Aquafin voor het beheer van hun gemeentelijk rioolstelsel.

Industry and Aquaplus

Aquaplus provides industrial clients across the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, amongst others, with specialised advice and operational expertise in water treatment and management. From process audits to renovations and fully outsourced operations, Aquaplus helps companies make their water treatment systems efficient, compliant, and future-proof.

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Want to know more about Aquafin's financing?

If you have any questions about our financing, reporting, or investment instruments, our finance experts can provide clear and accurate guidance.