In 1994, Michael Colburn was working at another water treatment company that was preparing to relocate to Florida. Unwilling to leave California, Mike turned to his wife, Dianne, and said, “Di and me—we’re going to start a company, and we’ll call it Dime Water.” That was the beginning.
Starting from scratch wasn’t easy. Dianne recalls, “Mike would handwrite our catalogs, and I would type everything on a typewriter. Coming from the Midwest, it was extremely difficult to start a business in California. We didn’t know anyone, and networking was a challenge. It was a high-risk move.”
But they persevered. With Michael’s engineering background and Dianne’s financial expertise, they laid the foundation for what would become a trusted name in customized, chemical-free water treatment solutions.
Michael also remembers the early challenges of shifting his mindset. “I had a preconceived notion that non-salt equipment wouldn’t work. But one day I got in the truck and started talking to plumbers and contractors. A man told me he was using non-chemical systems. That got me thinking. Soon after, we were building reverse osmosis units for Japan, where salt-based softeners weren’t allowed. That’s when we developed our first non-chemical scale prevention device—and we guaranteed the membrane life at a value greater than our entire company. We risked everything, but the technology worked.”
Working with Japanese customers taught the team a critical lesson: form, fit, and function matter. “They expected our systems to not only work well but also to look like a work of art,” says Michael. This focus on quality, appearance, and reliability became core to Dime Water’s philosophy.
Company Milestones
We, like most companies and individuals, get comfortable with our abilities and assume everyone knows about them. Now, after 30 years in business, we too often hear: “I didn't know you make those.” To put that comment to rest, please see the following brief summary of our capabilities.
Our leadership team is committed to our customers, above all. Our team is passionate about building our company and building our talent. This team sets the strategy that guides our business to deliver results and innovate.