Crystal Clear Water Systems, 534 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541, US

Like many servicemen returning home from World War II, Omer Miller and John Nooney had plans to start their own business. They saw a need to improve the quality of water piped into local homes and businesses. After developing a unique piece of equipment to do just that, the two launched Portasoft Company, which today, is one of the oldest, largest, most successful water treatment dealers in America. Since 1945, Portasoft has grown dramatically in size and greatly expanded the scope of its products, while staying firmly focused in the water treatment industry. Customers include thousands of residential, commercial and industrial users in the New York metropolitan area. Homeowners and hospitals, and even some municipalities use products manufactured by Portasoft, or the services the company supplies. Today's co-owners of the company, Ron Kent, a former executive with Johnson & Johnson, and Byron Miller, Omer's son, report that Portasoft now has over 15, 000 active clients, and continues to develop equipment and methods to make water taste, feel, and work better. At their Union County, NJ office, the two recently spoke about the company. The water one receives from purveyors, usually water utilities, is relatively clean and biologically safe. But in order for water to be more useful and efficient for home uses such as bathing, cleaning, and drinking, it requires some level of improvement, said Miller. "And as we humans are about 70 percent water, it stands to reason that our bodies would benefit from the best possible drinking water, adds Miller.