W.K. Merriman

What W.K. Merriman does

W.K. Merriman, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-headquartered chemical and environmental technology company that manufactures and distributes water and wastewater treatment solutions for industrial and municipal customers across the United States. Founded in 1986 by Bill and Mary Ann Merriman, the company operates seven production terminals throughout the Midwest, South, and East Coast that manufacture liquid lime slurry, dolomitic lime slurry, and magnesium hydroxide, supplemented by dry products (hydrate, dolomitic lime, magnesium oxide), specialty products (ferric chloride and the proprietary Byo-Gon biological augmentation formulation), and commodity chemicals (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid) routed through its WKM LLC subsidiary formed in 2013. The technical platform also encompasses ATP and DNA biological testing services, comprehensive wastewater lab testing, remote inventory monitoring via Omni-Site, and supporting equipment including storage tanks, mixers, pumps, and mobile trial units ranging from 2,100 to 8,400 gallons.

The company's technology stack rests on engineered chemical formulations (Byo-Gon using Xeronine to stimulate facultative bacteria), proprietary biosystem testing methodologies (LuminUltra 2nd Generation ATP testing measuring cATP, BSI, and ABR; DNA testing for species identification), and seven strategically located slurry production terminals that enable bulk delivery via rail, pneumatic trucks, and tankers. The company holds NSF/ANSI Standard 60 certifications for select drinking-water products and is WBENC-certified as a Women's Business Enterprise; it was Dow Chemical's #1 Technical Reseller in the United States for Magnesium Hydroxide through the 1990s and 2000s.

W.K. Merriman generates revenue primarily through the sale of chemicals and slurries, the resale of commodity acids and bases through WKM LLC, the sale of equipment (tanks, mixers, pumps, trial units), and technical services (ATP/DNA testing, lab testing, system surveys, trial start-ups, and full-scale chemical conversions). The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales led by a small named leadership team with direct on-site customer engagement, mobile trial unit proof-of-concept, and quote-based pricing. The company is privately held under founding-family ownership with no disclosed outside funding and serves verticals spanning automotive manufacturing, chemical processing, coal mining, food processing, municipal treatment, power generation, and oil and gas.

Name

W.K. Merriman

Legal name

W.K. Merriman, Inc.

Website

https://wkmerriman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W.K. Merriman is a privately held chemical and environmental technology company that manufactures and distributes water and wastewater treatment chemicals and slurries to industrial and municipal customers across the Midwest, South, and East Coast, supported by biological testing, equipment, and technical services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Chemicals

NAICS

Lime Manufacturing (327410), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)

SIC

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Chemicals (IMAEAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Softening & Demineralization (Lime Softening, Ion Exchange) (EUANABAE), Industrial Sludge & Byproduct Management (BPALAHAG)

Keywords

• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Municipal water treatment chemicals
• Lime slurry production
• Biological wastewater solutions
• Chemical feed systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products Sales: Sale of specialized chemical products including Lime Slurry, Dolomitic Lime Slurry, Magnesium Hydroxide Slurry, Caustic Soda, Ferric Chloride, Byo-Gon, and dry materials. Products are sold in various forms (bulk tankers, totes, drums, bags).
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of equipment including storage tanks (carbon steel, fiberglass, HDPE), mixers, pumps (peristaltic, diaphragm, centrifugal), and mobile trial units.
3. Technical Services: Technical services including wastewater lab testing, ATP testing, DNA testing, inventory monitoring, system surveys, trial start-ups, and full-scale chemical conversions.
4. Commodity Chemicals: Sale of commodity chemicals including Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, and other industrial chemicals through subsidiary WKM LLC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

W.K. Merriman provides engineered chemical solutions for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, including manufactured lime slurry products (Lime Slurry, Dolomitic Lime Slurry, Magnesium Hydroxide Slurry), dry materials, commodity chemicals, and the proprietary Byo-Gon biological augmentation product. The company combines chemical supply with on-site technical services such as system surveys, laboratory testing, ATP and DNA bio-system analysis, remote inventory monitoring, and full-scale chemical conversions delivered through a direct field sales team and seven production terminals across the Midwest, South, and East Coast.

Product overview

W.K. Merriman is a chemical and environmental technology company offering a comprehensive portfolio of water treatment solutions for industrial and municipal applications. The product portfolio consists of three core slurry products (Lime Slurry, Dolomitic Lime Slurry, Magnesium Hydroxide Slurry), three dry material products (Hydrate + Pebble Lime, Dolomitic Lime, Magnesium Oxide), three specialty products (Ferric Chloride, Byo-Gon, ATP Test Kits), three commodity chemicals (Caustic Soda, Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid), four services (Bio System ATP Testing, Bio System DNA Testing, Wastewater Lab Testing, Inventory Monitoring), and four equipment lines (Storage Tanks, Mixers, Pumps, Trial Units). These products and services work together to provide complete wastewater treatment solutions including chemical supply, biological augmentation, laboratory analysis, equipment systems, and inventory management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lime Slurry A free-flowing suspension of Calcium Hydroxide (35% solids standard blend) in water, used for pH adjustment, water softening, metals precipitation, and odor control in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. ANSI/NSF Standard 60 certified for drinking water treatment applications.
• Dolomitic Lime Slurry A blend of Lime and Magnesium in one liquid product (35% solids standard blend) providing quick pH adjustment with increased alkalinity, reducing scale buildup and maximizing cell growth in denitrification systems.
• Magnesium Hydroxide Slurry A safe, non-corrosive 58% solids slurry for neutralizing industrial and municipal wastewater, buffering pH between 6.0-9.0 and providing optimal alkalinity for aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment systems.
• Hydrate + Pebble Lime Calcium Oxide (quicklime) and Calcium Hydroxide (hydrated lime) in various sizes and grades for water treatment, flue gas desulfurization, construction, and industrial applications. Meets NSF-60 standards.
• Dolomitic Lime Dry blended hydrate containing Magnesium and Calcium for water treatment, masonry, construction, chemical manufacturing, acid neutralization, soil remediation, and industrial applications.
• Magnesium Oxide White hygroscopic solid mineral (MgO) used for pH control, water purification by precipitating heavy metals, and filtering suspended solids. Can be converted to Magnesium Hydroxide for additional uses.
• Ferric Chloride Corrosive flocculant (37% to 42% FeCl3) used in water purification and sewage treatment for coagulation and improved water quality. NSF 60 approved for drinking water applications.
• Byo-Gon Proprietary liquid alkaloid formulation using Xeronine to stimulate cell growth in facultative bacteria, boosting metabolism in municipal and industrial biological wastewater treatment systems.
• Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) Various grades and percentages of liquid Sodium Hydroxide (Diaphragm, Premium DH, Membrane, Mercury Cell grades) used for pulp and paper manufacturing, alumina production, water treatment, and general chemistry.
• Hydrochloric Acid Technical grade Muriatic Acid (HCl) in various dilution options for steel pickling, chemical manufacturing, oil well acidizing, food production, and pH control.
• Sulfuric Acid Technical grade 93% Sulfuric Acid used in fertilizer manufacturing, paints, pigments, explosives, pulp and paper, plastics, detergents, textiles, batteries, and specialty chemicals production.
• Bio System ATP Testing ATP testing service using LuminUltra equipment (2nd Generation test kits, PhotonMaster luminometer, myLuminUltra software) to analyze biological wastewater system health, measuring cATP (cellular ATP), BSI (biological stress index), and ABR (active biomass ratio). Available onsite or via overnight sample submission.
• Bio System DNA Testing DNA testing service to identify bacterial species in biosystems, establishing baselines and tracking how treatment products affect microbial populations before and during treatment.
• Wastewater Lab Testing Comprehensive lab testing including pH, reactivity, titrations, TSS/solids, sludge analysis, settability, cost analysis, ATP testing, DNA testing, viscosity, and product quality control. Available onsite or in-house.
• Inventory Monitoring Remote inventory monitoring service using Omni-Site technology providing tank level tracking, pH readings, low/high alarms, and power monitoring with computer and mobile app access.
• Storage Tanks Chemical storage vessels in Carbon Steel, Fiberglass, and HDPE materials ranging from 5,000 to 13,000 gallons, with 304 Stainless Steel options available.
• Mixers Chemical agitators and mechanical mixers including Lightning, ProQuip, and Madison mixers for bulk storage tanks and tote containers, with various shaft and impeller configurations.
• Pumps Peristaltic, diaphragm, and centrifugal pumps from ProMinent, Watson Marlow, and Verderflex for all pumping and dosing applications.
• Trial Units Mobile storage and feed systems (2,100 to 8,400 gallon capacity) with 460V or 230V power options and cellular monitoring for on-site product trials and testing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in chemical costs for automotive wastewater treatment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dow ChemicalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Partnership formed in 1991 with Dow Chemical to technically represent their Magnesium Hydroxide production in the Mid Atlantic region. W.K. Merriman grew to become Dow Chemical's #1 Technical Reseller in the United States through the 90s and into the 2000s.
• LuminUltracoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with LuminUltra to provide ATP Testing which allows customers insight into how Byo-Gon is working on the cellular level. W.K. Merriman uses LuminUltra's 2nd Generation ATP test kits and PhotonMaster luminometer for testing.
• LuminUltracoreTechnology or IntegrationUtilizes LuminUltra's 2nd Generation ATP test kits engineered to provide best-in-class balance of ease-of-use and accuracy, along with the PhotonMaster luminometer and myLuminUltra software.
• Pennsylvania Department of General ServicesminorOthersAffiliation listed on company website indicating partnership or supplier relationship with Pennsylvania state government.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF)minorOthersAffiliation listed on company website. Chris Leber is a member of WEF and represents WKM at local and regional trade shows.
• Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST)minorOthersAffiliation listed on company website indicating membership in the steel industry association.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)minorOthersAffiliation listed on company website indicating certification or partnership with the SBA.
• Chemical Association of PittsburghcoreOthersVP Wendy Chevalier serves on the Board of Directors. Sales and Operations David Miller served as President of the Association in 2020 and is an active board member.
• ProMinentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProMinent peristaltic pumps are offered as part of W.K. Merriman's equipment portfolio for chemical dosing applications.
• Watson MarlowminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWatson Marlow peristaltic pumps are offered as part of W.K. Merriman's equipment portfolio for chemical dosing applications.
• Lightning MixersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLightning Mixers are offered as part of W.K. Merriman's equipment portfolio for chemical agitation in storage tanks and tote containers.
• ProQuip MixersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProQuip Mixers are offered as part of W.K. Merriman's equipment portfolio for chemical agitation applications.
• Omni-SitecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Omni-Site for remote inventory monitoring systems. Omni-Site Crystal Ball with multiple relay inputs provides tank level monitoring, pH readings, low/high alarms, and power monitoring accessible via computer or mobile app.
• WKM LLCcoreOthersSubsidiary formed in 2013 focused on commodity chemicals for various industries and the growing Oil and Natural Gas Industry in the Eastern United States (Marcellus and Utica Shale formations).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carmeuse: Carmeuse is a leading North American lime producer that supplies quicklime, hydrated lime, and lime slurry products directly overlapping with W.K. Merriman's lime slurry portfolio. It competes head-to-head in industrial and municipal pH-adjustment and water-softening applications.
• Mississippi Lime Company: Mississippi Lime produces high-calcium lime and hydrated lime products used in water and wastewater treatment, competing with W.K. Merriman in industrial pH control, metals precipitation, and softening applications. Both companies supply lime slurry to municipal and industrial accounts.
• ChemTreat: ChemTreat is a direct competitor in industrial and institutional water treatment chemicals, offering boiler, cooling, and wastewater treatment programs with on-site service similar to W.K. Merriman. It serves overlapping industrial customer segments including food processing, power, and manufacturing.
• US Water Services: US Water Services is a direct competitor specializing in industrial water and wastewater treatment chemicals, equipment, and outsourced service programs. It targets similar industrial and municipal customers with custom-blended chemical programs analogous to W.K. Merriman's offerings.
• BWA Water Additives: BWA Water Additives produces specialty chemicals for industrial water treatment including biocides, antiscalants, and corrosion inhibitors. Its specialty chemical portfolio and industrial customer base overlap with W.K. Merriman's specialty chemical offerings beyond commodity lime.

Regional players

• Hydrite Chemical Co. Hydrite Chemical is a U.S. Midwest-based manufacturer and distributor of industrial and specialty chemicals with a focus on water treatment, food processing, and industrial customers. It serves similar end markets to W.K. Merriman with a primarily regional footprint in the Midwest.

Emerging players

• Premier Tech Aqua: Premier Tech Aqua provides water and wastewater treatment solutions including biological augmentation and nutrient removal products. Its biological treatment focus overlaps with W.K. Merriman's Byo-Gon and ATP/DNA testing services in the municipal wastewater segment.

Broad incumbents

• Solenis: Solenis is a global specialty chemicals provider serving water-intensive industries including pulp and paper, mining, and oil and gas. Its water treatment and process chemistries overlap with W.K. Merriman's industrial wastewater chemical portfolio, especially in mining and oil and gas end markets.
• Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia is a global water and wastewater treatment major providing chemicals, equipment, and service contracts to industrial and municipal customers. It overlaps with W.K. Merriman in municipal wastewater chemical supply and biological treatment optimization.
• Nalco Water (Ecolab): Nalco Water, an Ecolab division, is the largest industrial water treatment chemicals and services provider globally. It competes with W.K. Merriman across industrial wastewater, cooling, and process water applications, but operates at much greater scale with a broader portfolio.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wkmerriman
• Facebookfacebook.com/wkmerriman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w-k-merriman-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/wkmerriman

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 W.K. Merriman