Canada's Underground Revolution: New Partnership Tackles Aging Pipes

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – February 23, 2026 – A major strategic partnership is set to introduce advanced European pipe-renewal technology across Canada, aiming to overhaul the nation's aging and deteriorating water infrastructure. PURIS announced today that Danish engineering giant Per Aarsleff (PAA) has acquired a significant stake in LiquiForce, a PURIS-owned Canadian leader in trenchless pipe repair. The alliance combines PAA's cutting-edge, light-cured lining systems with LiquiForce's deep-rooted Canadian market presence, creating a formidable force poised to modernize how municipalities address a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure crisis.

The State of Canada's Pipes: A Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge

Beneath Canada's towns and cities lies a vast and aging network of water and wastewater pipes, a critical asset facing a severe deficit. According to the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card, a startling 25% of the country's water infrastructure is rated as "fair," "poor," or "very poor." The cost to repair just the wastewater and stormwater systems in the worst condition is estimated to exceed $40 billion. Many of these systems have been in service for 50 to 100 years, far exceeding their originally intended lifespan and creating mounting risks of service disruptions, water main breaks, and contamination.

This silent crisis has tangible consequences for residents. Rising water bills are increasingly common as utilities struggle to cover the costs associated with leaks, which can account for 10% to 30% of an average bill in some regions. In Ontario alone, nearly a third of water mains are at or near the end of their service life, a problem mirrored nationwide. The replacement value for municipal potable water pipes currently in poor or very poor condition already tops $26 billion, a figure that is expected to climb as more of the underground network is assessed. This widespread decay puts public health at risk from potential bacterial infiltration through cracks and leaks in the system.

The traditional method of addressing these failures—digging up and replacing pipes—is costly, disruptive to communities, and time-consuming. This has fueled a growing demand for "no-dig" or trenchless technologies, which offer a faster, more efficient, and less intrusive alternative. The Canadian market for these solutions is expanding rapidly as municipalities seek smarter ways to invest their limited infrastructure dollars.

A Strategic Alliance Forged Underground

The new partnership between Per Aarsleff and LiquiForce is structured to directly address this demand. In a deal valued at DKK 90.7 million (approximately CAD $17.8 million), PAA has acquired a 49.5% ownership stake in the newly formed LiquiForce entity. This financial commitment solidifies a collaboration designed to merge global technological leadership with local operational excellence.

LiquiForce, a PURIS company, has operated for over 34 years and is widely recognized as one of Canada's most experienced "no-dig" rehabilitation firms. Headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, it has built a reputation for reliable service delivery across the country.

"LiquiForce has deep relationships throughout Canada and a legacy of delivering quality service to its customers," said Mick Fegan, CEO of PURIS. "By pairing PAA's technical insights and equipment advancements with the strength of the LiquiForce team, we are enhancing our ability to deliver superior lateral products and solutions to both existing and future customers across Canada."

PAA, founded in 1947, brings a different but complementary set of strengths. Its Aarsleff Pipe Technologies division has been a European market leader in trenchless solutions since 1978, developing and manufacturing its own proprietary systems. This vertical integration, from research and development to on-site installation, gives the company unparalleled control over quality and innovation.

Peter Lystbaek of PAA emphasized the synergy of the two companies. "This partnership represents a significant opportunity to bring together highly complementary strengths," he stated. "Our engineering expertise and understanding of complex renewal projects, combined with LiquiForce's proven Canadian operations, will help accelerate the deployment of advanced UV‑cured technologies and give customers greater confidence in the durability, reliability, and performance of their infrastructure investments."

The Technological Leap: From Steam to LED Light

At the heart of the partnership is a commitment to deploying next-generation Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) technology. CIPP is a trenchless method that rehabilitates a damaged pipe from the inside out by inserting a flexible, resin-saturated liner and curing it to form a new, seamless, and structural pipe within the old one.

While traditional CIPP methods often rely on hot water or steam for curing—processes that can be energy-intensive and time-consuming—PAA is a pioneer in using ultraviolet (UV) and LED light. The company's "Bluelight" LED curing system for lateral service lines, for example, has been successfully used in over 50,000 installations across Europe. This technology was adapted and certified for the North American market in 2019, proving its viability outside its home territory.

Light-curing offers significant advantages. The process is considerably faster, reducing project times and minimizing disruption to traffic and residents. It also provides greater quality control, as the curing process can be monitored in real-time. Furthermore, these systems have a smaller environmental footprint, consuming less energy and eliminating the need to manage and treat large volumes of heated water. The resulting liner creates a wear-resistant pipe with a projected lifespan of up to 100 years, offering municipalities a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix. The progressive expansion of these advanced LED and UV technologies is a core objective of the new LiquiForce partnership.

Reshaping the Canadian Market

This strategic integration of PAA and LiquiForce marks a significant move in the ongoing consolidation of the North American water infrastructure sector. It is orchestrated by PURIS, which itself was formed through a series of acquisitions by the private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Co., including the purchase of LiquiForce in 2022. The move signals a clear strategy to build a dominant, technology-forward solutions provider.

By combining LiquiForce's established Canadian footprint and client base with PAA's world-class engineering and proprietary technology, the new entity is positioned to outpace competitors who may lack the same scale or technological sophistication. The partnership effectively creates a one-stop-shop, offering everything from initial pipe inspection and assessment to the manufacturing and installation of advanced CIPP liners.

The trenchless technology market in Canada, while growing, includes a mix of regional and specialized contractors. This new powerhouse venture raises the bar for performance and efficiency, potentially accelerating the industry-wide adoption of more advanced rehabilitation methods. For Canadian municipalities and utilities, this increased competition and technological advancement translates into more durable, reliable, and cost-effective options for managing their critical underground assets, ensuring a more sustainable water future for communities across the country.