Pentair buys upscale home and office water filtration maker Rocean

Pentair has wrapped up another deal in its continued push into the consumer market, announcing this week that it has completed its acquisition of Rocean, a New York-based startup that makes a device that filters, flavors and carbonates water directly from the tap.

Rocean, also known as Be the Change Labs, was founded in 2017 and markets itself as an upscale, eco-friendly product aimed at reducing the single-use plastic bottles used in homes and businesses that wind up in oceans and landfills.

Its Rocean One countertop filtration system, which retails for about $350, was recognized as one of Time magazine's best inventions of 2020. The company sold out of its first 1,000 units, and the website has a waiting list for "limited batches" that are expected to be available this spring.

Pentair Executive Vice President Mario D'Ovidio, who leads the company's consumer solutions division, said in a statement that the Rocean acquisition allows Pentair to continue serving customers in new ways while also supporting the company's efforts "to create a more sustainable future."

Pentair is headquartered in London but has executive offices and substantial operations Golden Valley. The $3 billion company provides dewatering, irrigation management, water purification and filtration services for energy and industrial sectors.

In recent years Pentair has made a bigger play in the residential water-quality market, offering "whole home" solutions, including pool and spa equipment, and filtration systems for drinking water.

The acquisition of Rocean was completed Monday.

Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335

Twitter: @JackieCrosby