Earthwise

What Earthwise does

Earthwise Environmental, Inc. is an industrial water treatment company founded in 1995 by Robert S. Miller and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company designs, engineers, and services water treatment solutions for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities, with a focus on healthcare, data centers, educational institutions, and manufacturing end-markets. Its technology stack centers on sustainable, chemical-reducing and chemical-free treatment methods, including the trademarked EPF™ 4100 engineered water for high-temperature extruder cooling, a drumless Solid Delivery System for chemical handling, on-site MIOX mixed oxidant generation, copper/silver ionization for Legionella control, the Chiller Efficiency Solution (CES) automatic tube cleaning system, and a cloud-based 24/7 Plant Monitoring platform. The firm differentiates through credentialed expertise — three Certified Water Technologists (CWT) on staff, 150+ combined years of experience, and ASHRAE 188 compliance — and through regulatory positioning around Legionella risk management in healthcare and institutional settings.

The business model blends professional services (consulting, water management programs), equipment sales and installation (reverse osmosis, deionization, water softeners), recurring maintenance contracts (monthly/quarterly/annual), and subscription-style 24/7 monitoring. Pricing is quote-based, customized per facility, and structured around multi-year service contracts. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with territory-based Account Managers and onsite Technical Service Representatives, supported by inside sales via website and phone inquiries. Distribution is national with stated concentration in Illinois and the broader Midwest, including offices in Schaumburg, Detroit, and Milwaukee. The company was acquired by Water Engineering, Inc., a portfolio company of private equity sponsor Nolan Capital, in September 2023, and now operates as a PE-backed subsidiary with implied roll-up and growth-investment runway.

Name

Earthwise

Legal name

Earthwise Environmental, Inc.

Website

https://earthwiseenvironmental.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Earthwise Environmental is an industrial water treatment firm founded in 1995 that designs, engineers, and services chemical-reducing and chemical-free water treatment solutions — including engineered water, on-site disinfection, and 24/7 cloud monitoring — for healthcare, data center, educational, and manufacturing facilities, operating under PE ownership since 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Water Treatment

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Closed-Loop Heating/Chilled Water Treatment (Corrosion/Scale/Biocide) (BPABAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK), Pipework, Calorifier & Heat Exchanger Descaling/Decontamination (BPABAJAI)

Keywords

• Industrial water treatment
• Water management services
• Legionella control
• Cooling tower treatment
• Boiler water treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wood Dale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water Treatment Services: Core revenue stream from providing water treatment services including consulting, system design, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Services include boiler water treatment, cooling tower treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, and Legionella control programs.
2. Equipment Sales and Installation: Sale and installation of water treatment equipment including reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, deionization systems, monitoring equipment, and chemical feed systems.
3. Monitoring and Reporting Services: Ongoing monitoring services providing 24/7 water system monitoring, real-time reporting, and automated alerts for plant water management.
4. Maintenance Plans: Monthly, quarterly, or annual maintenance plans for water treatment equipment including commercial water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, and other treatment equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Earthwise Environmental provides industrial water treatment services including consultation, custom water system design, equipment installation, and ongoing maintenance for boilers, cooling towers, industrial wastewater, and Legionella control programs. The company sells and services equipment such as reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, deionization systems, monitoring hardware, and chemical feed systems, while operating 24/7 cloud-based plant monitoring for healthcare, data center, educational, and manufacturing clients.

Product overview

Earthwise Environmental is an industrial water treatment company that has operated since 1995, offering a comprehensive portfolio of water treatment services organized as core treatment applications, specialty services, and professional expertise. The company's core products include Earthwise Water Systems™ for custom engineered water solutions and the Chiller Efficiency Solution (CES) for automatic tube cleaning. Their service portfolio encompasses consulting services, 24/7 plant monitoring, pre-treatment services (water softening, deionization, reverse osmosis), and hazardous liquid elimination. Application services cover industrial wastewater treatment, boiler water treatment, cooling tower water treatment, water quality management, and water softening. Specialty offerings include Legionella testing and treatment, domestic water disinfection systems, water/energy conservation, and mechanical construction and retrofit services. The company differentiates through three Certified Water Technologists on staff and partnerships with leading industry associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Earthwise Water Systems™: An innovative approach to managing industrial water systems through custom tailoring of water properties for optimum performance in challenging heat exchange applications.
• Chiller Efficiency Solution (CES)
• Disinfectant on Demand

Products and services

• Earthwise Water Systems™ Custom engineered water treatment approach that tailors water properties for specific industrial applications to meet challenging heat exchange requirements, using ion exchange, membrane technology, and chemical innovation to manipulate water properties for optimum performance.
• Chiller Efficiency Solution (CES) Automatic tube cleaning system (ATCS) that uses non-abrasive cleaning pods flushed through cooling systems via natural water flow to prevent buildup in heat exchangers, improving heat transfer efficiency while equipment remains operational.
• Disinfectant on Demand On-site hypochlorite and chemical generators that produce disinfectant solutions using electrolysis, eliminating the need for storing and handling hazardous chemicals.
• Consulting Services Water management consulting including on-site testing, independent laboratory analysis, equipment inspections, Legionella control strategies, pretreatment equipment design, real-time monitoring, in-plant training, and emergency service.
• Utility / Process Water Process water enhancement services that maintain clean metal surfaces and optimize heat transfer efficiency in boiler feedwater, industrial process water, heating and cooling water, and process steam generation applications.
• Pre-Treatment Services Water purification through industrial water softeners, deionization, and reverse osmosis systems to remove pollutants from intake water for efficient heating and cooling.
• 24/7 Plant Monitoring Cloud-based water treatment monitoring system providing real-time notifications, automated email alarms, process control, energy auditing, and remote operation capabilities for boilers, cooling towers, and wastewater applications.
• Mechanical Construction & Retrofit New construction and retrofit water treatment services including bid and design, clean-out refit, equipment inspection, and EHS training for mechanical engineers.
• Domestic Water Disinfection Systems Secondary disinfection systems including chlorine dosing, chlorine ionization, mixed oxidant generators, and copper-silver ionization for controlling biological growth in building water systems.
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment Industrial wastewater treatment services that remove impurities from manufacturing wastewater to ensure safe, compliant release into the environment or sanitary sewer, enabling efficient water recycling and reuse.
• Boiler Water Treatment Water treatment services that maintain proper water quality in boiler systems to minimize scale, ensure maximum boiler efficiency and equipment life, and reduce maintenance costs.
• Cooling Tower Water Treatment Cooling tower treatment including filtration, chemical treatment, disinfection, water softening, and monitoring to prevent mineral buildup, corrosion, and microbial contamination.
• Water Quality Management Water quality management services including industrial water pretreatment, consulting, and monitoring to protect capital equipment investment and ensure optimal safety, compliance, and efficiency.
• Water Softening and Conditioning Water conditioning services that remove excess mineral content from water sources to reduce scale buildup, prevent corrosion, extend equipment life, and improve HVAC efficiency.
• Legionella Water Testing & Treatment Legionella testing, treatment, and ASHRAE 188-compliant Water Management Program development including emergency response, environmental sampling, and consultation for compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Water / Energy Conservation Water and energy conservation programs including sustainability assessments, LEED qualification support, evaporation credits, and Nicor Gas energySmart rebate assistance.
• Eliminate Hazardous Liquids Replacement of hazardous liquid chemicals with solid formulations, safer liquids, non-chemical solutions, and on-site generators to reduce risks, eliminate handling dangers, and minimize storage issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• One Illinois hospital saved more than $7 million and 20 million gallons of water per year
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AMOEBAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2015Letter of Intent signed July 2015 for Green Biocide Distribution Agreement. AMOEBA's product shows interest for changing biocide industry with wide antimicrobial activity.
• MIOX CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationEarthwise works with MIOX to implement their unique on-site chemical generation solution for water disinfection. MIOX is the industry leader in on-site chemical generators for water disinfection.
• ClearwaterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEarthwise partners with Clearwater to provide on-site technical services for water treatment solutions.
• Special Pathogens LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with CDC Elite laboratory led by Dr. Janet E. Stout for independent analysis of Legionella test results and third-party validation of Legionella control work.
• Nicor GascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthern Illinois natural gas provider offering energySmart program rebates of $1.00 per therm saved. Earthwise helps customers qualify for this rebate with water conservation techniques.
• ASHRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership keeping Earthwise up-to-date on Legionella standards and building water system guidelines. ASHRAE 188-2015/2018 compliant Water Management Programs.
• NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation keeping Earthwise current on corrosion engineering standards and practices.
• CTI (Cooling Technology Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation for cooling technology standards and best practices.
• AWT (Association of Water Technologies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation for water treatment technology standards. Home of CWT (Certified Water Technologist) certification.
• AFE (Association of Facilities Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation for facilities engineering standards and practices.
• USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation for LEED certification and sustainable building standards.
• NephroscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with hospital-grade water filter manufacturer for ice machine filtration systems in healthcare facilities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ChemTreat: ChemTreat is one of the largest direct competitors in industrial water treatment services and chemistry programs for boilers, cooling towers and process water - the same core application stack Earthwise services. Now operating under Solenis, it competes head-to-head in the same healthcare, manufacturing and commercial verticals.
• Chem-Aqua: Chem-Aqua is an industrial and commercial water treatment service provider offering boiler, cooling tower and closed-loop programs with on-site technical representatives. Its direct-service, field-rep-led model mirrors Earthwise's enterprise field sales motion.
• US Water Services: US Water Services is a mid-market industrial water treatment specialist providing integrated chemistry, equipment and monitoring for industrial and institutional customers. Its service-led, multi-vertical model closely mirrors Earthwise's positioning and scale.
• Cimbria Unigrain / Croft / Lake Water Tech: Lake Water Technology is a smaller specialty industrial water treatment service provider in the Midwest focused on cooling tower and boiler chemistry with on-site service. It competes with Earthwise in the same regional healthcare and manufacturing accounts.

Regional players

• Biwater: Biwater is a UK-headquartered water and wastewater treatment solutions provider serving municipal and industrial customers. It is comparable to Earthwise on industrial process water and wastewater applications, though primarily operating outside North America.

Broad incumbents

• Kurita Water Industries: Kurita is a Japan-based global water treatment chemicals and equipment company serving industrial, semiconductor and HVAC customers. It is comparable to Earthwise on boiler and cooling tower chemistry, though with a stronger equipment and international footprint.
• Nalco Water (Ecolab): Nalco Water, the water division of Ecolab, is the largest industrial water treatment chemicals and digital services provider globally. It competes with Earthwise across healthcare, data centers and manufacturing with bundled chemistry, equipment and 3D TRASAR-style digital monitoring - a far broader portfolio than Earthwise's specialty service offering.
• Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia Water Technologies operates one of the broadest water treatment equipment and service portfolios in the market. It overlaps with Earthwise on cooling tower, boiler and industrial process water customers, but at much larger scale and with full equipment manufacturing capabilities.
• Solenis: Solenis is a global specialty chemicals and water treatment provider that acquired ChemTreat in 2023, significantly expanding its industrial water footprint. It competes with Earthwise in industrial process water, cooling and boiler programs for the same enterprise customers.

Emerging players

• Cambrian Innovation: Cambrian Innovation is a sustainable water and wastewater treatment provider focused on industrial customers with measurable ESG outcomes. It competes with Earthwise on the sustainability and water-recycling value proposition, particularly in food and beverage manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ewise.env
• Xx.com/ewise_env

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Earthwise