On July 15, 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) granted approval for the establishment of Waterunie Operator, a joint venture between De Watergroep and Farys, set to commence operations on January 1, 2026. This new entity will manage all operational activities for both companies, while infrastructure and customer relations will remain with the parent companies, adhering to existing regulatory frameworks.

De Watergroep and Farys are both public water supply companies involved in the production and distribution of tap water, as well as sewer network management. De Watergroep serves 177 municipalities for tap water and 25 for sewer management, while Farys provides tap water to 58 municipalities and manages sewers in 50 municipalities.

Given that both companies hold a natural monopoly in their respective areas, the BCA investigated potential competition concerns related to the concentration. The investigation revealed that there is minimal geographical overlap in their activities, and competition is limited due to strict regulatory oversight by the Flanders Environment Agency and the upcoming Flemish Utility Regulator.

Additionally, the BCA examined potential conglomerate effects stemming from the joint venture, particularly regarding the risk of sharing sensitive commercial information between the water distribution and industrial water management sectors. In response to these concerns, De Watergroep and Farys proposed commitments to prevent such exchanges, which include governance measures and contract management safeguards.

These commitments will be in effect for ten years and will be monitored by an independent third party, with annual reports submitted to the BCA. The BCA concluded that these measures sufficiently address competition concerns, leading to the approval of the transaction. The decision will be published on the BCA's website shortly.