New water supply company looks to grow

“I’ve been in the industry for 11 years and I thought it was time do my own,” Cozad said. “There are seven different water companies in Logan County but not many in Springfield and there’s people with bad water.”

Chris Miller, owner of another independent water treatment business, agreed. He said most water businesses in Springfield are parts of chain or are an office from a larger company.

“And most people would rather deal with an independent, the reason being we guarantee all of their work … we charge a fair and reasonable price,” said Miller, owner of Chris Miller Water Solutions.

Ohio Blu Water provides water treatment, softening and filtering, and also offers a purified water station in front of the business for people to fill up bottles for 25 cents a gallon. The business has jugs available for purchase.

Cozad took over a building at 1722 E. Main St. that once housed the Mi Tierra grocery store, which has been vacant since it closed in April 2011.

Cozad said the business, which will focus on working with homeowners, has been taking calls since the beginning of November but officially opened last week. The business works with individuals, as well as contractors, on water systems and purifying. It employs a water specialist on staff.

Blu Water will also start hiring more staff in the late winter and early spring, Cozad said. To apply for potential jobs at Ohio Blu Water, applicants should send a resume to jason@ohiobluwater.com.

Miller’s business, which is family run, does some of the same services as Blu Water — providing water softening, water conditioners and custom water systems.

His business has been open for five years. Water treatment is a viable business, Miller said, and one that offers a lot of opportunities for newcomers such as Blu Water.

Like many other businesses, Chris Miller Water Solutions struggled during the Great Recession but Miller said he was able to recover and has hundreds of local customers — mostly home owners and some commercial businesses by appointment.

“When I first opened up I had just left the auto industry and that was on its end,” Miller said, laughing at the reminder that he opened a business at the beginning of the recession.

“Now our business is steadily growing,” he said. “We rely mainly on word of mouth.”