Del-Co Water

What Del-Co Water does

Del-Co Water Company, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit water utility cooperative incorporated under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1702 and founded in 1974. The cooperative provides potable drinking water service to more than 54,000 residential, commercial, and irrigation customers across eight counties in central Ohio, with primary service territory in Delaware County and Morrow County. The company operates over 2,200 miles of water distribution pipeline, two offices (Delaware corporate headquarters and Marengo satellite), and maintains 24/7 water treatment operations and emergency services under Ohio EPA oversight. Governance is provided by an elected nine-member Board of Directors, with members defined as property owners or parties with substantial possessory interest in served properties.

The company's product portfolio centers on water distribution service, complemented by a smart meter program with EyeOnWater portal integration, a 2025-launched customer portal supporting multiple payment options (credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay), engineering services for development and main line extensions, water quality monitoring (including PFAS and lead/copper testing), backflow prevention, and the distinctive Keena canine leak detection program launched in 2023. Water rates are tiered usage-based with minimum monthly charges by meter size; tap/connection fees range from $5,400 (5/8 inch) to $40,500 (2 inch), and fire service capacity surcharges range from $1,125 to $128,000 with annual maintenance fees. Development fees are calculated at 3.5% of total waterline construction costs.

Revenue is generated primarily through monthly usage-based water service fees, one-time tap/connection fees, recurring fire service capacity surcharges, and delinquent account fees. The cooperative's not-for-profit structure means surpluses are reinvested in infrastructure or applied to debt retirement rather than distributed to shareholders. Marketing and customer engagement are conducted through the company website, customer portal, email newsletters, and community events, reflecting a regulated utility model focused on customer education and service quality rather than competitive acquisition.

Name

Del-Co Water

Legal name

Del-Co Water Company, Inc.

Website

https://delcowater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Del-Co Water Company, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit water utility cooperative founded in 1974 that distributes potable drinking water to 54,000+ residential, commercial, and irrigation customers across eight counties in central Ohio via 2,200+ miles of pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Potable water distribution
• Water treatment operations
• Smart meter monitoring
• Leak detection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Delaware

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Service Fees: Monthly water service charges based on usage volume, with minimum charges for each meter size. Residential, irrigation, and non-residential rate schedules are differentiated.
2. Tap/Connection Fees: One-time connection fees for new water service installations based on meter size. Includes capacity charges and meter charges. Additional fees for fire service lines.
3. Delinquent Account Fees: Late fees (5% of balance), service disconnection fees ($50), and reconnection charges for delinquent accounts.
4. Fire Service Capacity Surcharges: Annual maintenance fees for fire service lines based on line diameter size, in addition to initial surcharge fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Del-Co Water is a member-owned water utility cooperative that treats and distributes potable drinking water to more than 54,000 residential, commercial, and irrigation customers across Delaware County and Morrow County, Ohio, through more than 2,200 miles of water distribution pipeline. The cooperative charges usage-based monthly water rates, one-time tap/connection fees, and fire service capacity surcharges, and supports delivery with smart meter technology, a multi-payment customer portal, water quality testing, and the Keena canine leak detection program.

Product overview

Del-Co Water Company is a regional water utility cooperative providing water distribution services to over 54,000 customers across eight counties in Ohio. The company operates a core water distribution network spanning more than 2,200 miles of pipeline. The product portfolio centers on water distribution service, complemented by a smart meter program with Eye on Water portal access, an integrated customer portal for account management and multi-payment options (PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit cards), specialized engineering services for development and infrastructure, water quality monitoring and testing including PFAS detection, and the unique Keena leak detection canine program. The company has been in operation for 50 years and maintains 24/7 water treatment operations and emergency services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Keena - Ohio's First Leak Detection Dog: Del-Co Water's canine leak detection program featuring Keena, a Belgian Malinois service dog trained for leak detection across the water distribution system.

Products and services

• Water Distribution Service Core potable water distribution service delivering treated drinking water to residential and commercial customers across Delaware and Morrow counties in Ohio through more than 2,200 miles of water distribution pipeline, with 24/7/365 treatment operations and emergency response.
• Smart Meter Program (with EyeOnWater Portal) Cellular smart meter infrastructure that allows customers to register via their Del-Co account number and zip code and access the EyeOnWater portal to track water usage patterns and identify anomalies on their property in real-time.
• Customer Portal Online account management platform at delcowaterportal.com providing account access, bill payment with multiple payment options (credit/debit cards with $2.95 fee, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, bank transfer), usage monitoring, service start/stop requests, opt-in email/text notifications for service updates and billing reminders, with mobile-responsive design.
• Engineering Services Engineering department services for developers and customers including subdivision and commercial development planning, water main line extensions, backflow prevention administration, and tap fee administration, including Ohio EPA approval coordination for new water line construction and extensions (development fees are 3.5% of total waterline construction costs with a minimum of $500).
• Water Quality Services Water quality monitoring and treatment services including chlorination, fluoridation, water hardness management (reduced to 7-8 grains per gallon), PFAS monitoring, lead and copper compliance testing, and annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) water quality reporting.
• Keena Leak Detection Program Canine leak detection program featuring Keena, Ohio's first leak detection dog, a Belgian Malinois trained for sensitive scent tracking to detect water leaks across the cooperative's 2,200+ miles of pipeline, supported by satellite-based leak imaging. Handler Zach brings a decade of canine service experience.
• Temporary Water Services Temporary water service options for filling pools, water trucks, construction sites, and festivals, including fire hydrant meters, fill station access, and temporary meter pit installations.
• Backflow Prevention Services Cross-connection control and backflow prevention services compliant with Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3745-95, including a tester directory, tester registration, and backflow test report submissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water hardness reduced to 7-8 grains per gallon through treatment process

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA)coreOthersRegulatory oversight and partnership for water quality compliance. Del-Co Water operates under Ohio EPA regulations for water treatment, testing, and distribution standards. Ohio EPA approval is required for new water line construction and extensions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SUEZ Water (now Veolia): SUEZ Water (now part of Veolia) operates regulated water utilities across the U.S. serving millions of customers. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility provider with similar infrastructure-based business model and regulatory compliance framework.
• California Water Service Group: California Water Service is a publicly traded regulated water utility serving ~2 million people across California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility with similar revenue model (metered rates, capacity charges, fire service fees), though operating in different regulatory jurisdictions.
• American Water Works Company: American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility, serving over 14 million people across 14 states including Ohio. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility with similar business model (rate base growth, regulatory recovery), but with vastly larger scale and geographic diversification.
• Veolia North America: Veolia North America operates water and wastewater services for municipalities and industrial clients across the U.S., including regulated utility operations. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water service provider, though Veolia typically operates via municipal contracts rather than cooperative structure.
• Essential Utilities (Aqua America): Essential Utilities is a large diversified water, wastewater, and natural gas utility holding company serving ~5 million people across 10 states including Ohio. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility with similar revenue models (usage-based rates, tap fees, fixed charges), but at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Middlesex Water Company: Middlesex Water is a publicly traded New Jersey-based water utility serving ~500,000 people. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility with similar customer mix (residential, commercial, industrial) and rate-based infrastructure model.
• Aqua Ohio: Aqua Ohio is a subsidiary of Essential Utilities and operates investor-owned water utilities across Ohio, including overlapping service territories in northern and central Ohio. Directly comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility serving Ohio residential and commercial customers with similar regulatory oversight from Ohio EPA.
• Artesian Resources: Artesian Resources is a publicly traded water and wastewater utility serving approximately 300,000 people across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated water utility with similar operating model and usage-based revenue structure.
• York Water Company: York Water is the oldest publicly traded water utility in the U.S., serving ~200,000 people in Pennsylvania. Comparable to Del-Co as a regulated investor-owned water utility with similar infrastructure depth, customer base scale, and rate-based revenue model.
• Boone Water District: Boone Water District is a special district water utility in northern Kentucky serving Cincinnati-area communities. Comparable to Del-Co as a small-to-mid-sized regulated water utility with similar residential/commercial customer mix and tiered rate structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DelcoWater

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Del-Co Water