Cork-based water treatment firm Celtic Water Care acquired 

Irish chemical solutions provider CSG is acquiring Cork-based Celtic Water Care, a wastewater specialist, to expand its water treatment services and strengthen market presence.

Chief executive of Chemical Solutions Group Kevin Quinn which has agreed terms to buy Celtic Water Care. Picture: Sean Curtin

Irish chemical solutions provider Chemical Solutions Group (CSG) has announced it has agreed terms to acquire the Cork-based wastewater and effluent treatment chemicals specialist Celtic Water Care Solutions Limited for an undisclosed sum.

Celtic Water Care was founded in 200 by John O’Connor. It is a wastewater and effluent treatment specialist based in Little Island, Co. Cork which supplies treatment products and end-to-end solutions to private-sector customers.

The company has 14 employees and over 200 customers across sectors including food and beverage manufacturers, dairy processors, design-build-operate contractors and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Chief executive of CSG Kevin Quinn said the acquisition of Celtic Water Care is part of a strategy to turn the company into a “broader family of specialist solution providers for water-intensive industries”.

He said the acquisition of Celtic Water Care adds “further regional depth and service capability and extends CSG’s reach in industrial wastewater”.

“Bringing Celtic Water Care into the CSG family strengthens our presence in Cork and the wider Munster region, adds complementary wastewater and effluent treatment services to our chemistry-led offering, and helps us support customers with even greater continuity from plant to process,” Mr Quinn added.

Mr O’Connor said joining CSG is a “very positive step” for the business.

Under the new ownership, Celtic Water Care will continue to serve customers as part of the CSG group, working closely with the Chemifloc and GI Chemicals teams.

The transaction is subject to merger control clearance by the Competition & Consumer Protection Commissions and is expected to be completed over the coming months. 

Founded in 1981, CSG provides the chemicals used in water intensive processes to both municipal and industrial customers. It partners with drinking water companies, as well as waste wastewater, environment and hygiene sectors to help deliver clean water.

It operates Ireland’s largest self-owned chemical tanker fleet, supported by their manufacturing plant in Shannon, and significant storage capacity in Foynes and Immingham in the UK CSG also owns a number of other companies including Chemifloc, GI Chemicals Ireland, GI Chemical Solutions UK, and Chemilab and currently employs 100 people.

Celtic Water Care is focused exclusively on wastewater and effluent treatment and does not supply products for potable water or hygiene.

This transaction will bring Celtic Water Care into the CSG group as a wholly owned subsidiary. CSG said it’s long-term growth strategy is to target €150m in revenue by 2030.