Europe’s PFAS Crackdown Spurs Nordic Water Merger

Nordic acquisition highlights how tighter EU limits are driving consolidation as suppliers and utilities prepare for compliance deadlines

3 Feb 2026

Europe’s response to so-called “forever chemicals” is accelerating, and a recent Nordic acquisition shows how tighter regulation is reshaping the water treatment market. As EU-wide limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) move from proposal to enforcement, suppliers are expanding capacity and expertise, while consolidation is becoming more common.

Swedish water technology group Chromafora has acquired the Danish PFAS remediation business previously operated by Montrose Environmental Group. The unit has been renamed Chromafora Denmark ApS, with Montrose remaining involved as a strategic partner rather than exiting the European market.

The transaction comes as utilities and industrial operators prepare for stricter obligations under the revised EU Drinking Water Directive. The rules introduce binding limits for PFAS and require member states to comply by 2026, increasing pressure on water suppliers to upgrade treatment systems and demonstrate long-term performance.

PFAS are widely used in industrial processes and consumer products and are difficult to remove once they enter water systems. Their persistence has raised public concern and regulatory scrutiny, pushing customers to act earlier, favour established technologies and seek partners with both treatment and remediation experience.

Chromafora said the acquisition expands its technical scope and geographic reach. The group specialises in treatment methods designed to capture smaller PFAS molecules that can pass through conventional filtration systems. The Danish team adds experience in site-specific remediation and the management of larger PFAS compounds, broadening the combined offering for municipal and industrial sites.

Chromafora chief executive Johan Seijmer has linked the deal to rising customer demand driven by regulation and public attention to water quality. Montrose’s continued involvement reflects the complexity of PFAS projects, which often require shared expertise across treatment, remediation and monitoring.

The deal fits a wider trend in Europe’s water sector. As standards tighten and project sizes increase, smaller specialists are joining forces to compete for larger contracts, spread costs and speed deployment. While questions remain over long-term treatment performance and the integration of different technologies, regulatory clarity is giving the market clearer direction.

For Europe’s water industry, the acquisition points to a shift towards greater scale and more coordinated responses to PFAS contamination as compliance deadlines approach.