John Miles has been in the water treatment industry for more than a quarter century and part of that business sector locally since 2010. On March 1, he launched Miles Soft Water to market that expertise directly to customers in Webster County and adjacent venues.

Miles said he initially made potential patrons aware of his new enterprise by having a booth at The Messenger’s Home & Garden Expo, held at Iowa Central Community College’s East Campus March 13-15.

“That was basically our business launch,” he said. “It was perfect timing, very successful.”

Addressing an array of water problems is the basic mission at Miles Soft Water.

“I sell water softeners, iron filters, reverse osmosis units and then I do chlorine removal and bacteria removal,” Miles said. “We also offer salt delivery service for the water softeners.”

In some communities, having a water softener is a bit of a luxury. Miles explained that Fort Dodge isn’t one of those towns.

“The water in Fort Dodge is incredibly hard,” he said. “Compared to Des Moines where the water is seven to eight grains hard, we’re 37 or 38 grains of hardness per gallon here. I’ve found the majority of people in Fort Dodge do have water softeners.”

Miles stressed that in areas where water is very hard, failing to have a water softener can be a costly mistake.

“If you don’t have a water softener, the hardness (mineral content) of the water eats away the appliances and all the water fixtures – your faucet, your hot water heater, dishwasher, anything that has water running through it,” he said. “When you have a water softener you don’t get that mineral or lime buildup. It’s calcium and magnesium mixed together that causes lime.”

Given the hardness of local water, Miles said selling and maintaining water-softening systems is a business with great potential here and in this part of Iowa.

“In Des Moines, it is a luxury,” he said. “In Fort Dodge, it is a necessity.”

Additionally, Miles said the booming local economy creates an ideal environment for commercial success.

“It’s a great thing for business,” he said. “This influx of people, they are not used to Fort Dodge water. It’s good for business.”

Miles said his goal for the new venture is quite straightforward.

“I want to provide the residents of Fort Dodge with the best quality of water possible at the best price,” he said. “I like changing people’s quality of life and water is a good way to do that.”

Miles said his message to potential customers is that the products he sells are “superior” and he is determined to make them available to clients at an “affordable price.”

Solo operation

Miles Soft Water is a one-person operation.

“That’s the way I prefer it. The only person to blame is me. I do everything,” Miles said. “I do all the sales and installations myself. First and foremost, I’m very customer-service oriented. I’ve been doing this for so long and I love it.”

The commitment to responsive service is underlined by the telephone number Miles provides to the public.

“My business card has my personal cellphone,” he said. “When people call my number, they get me right now.”

Meet John Miles

Miles grew up in Springfield, Missouri. He graduated from Central High there in 1985. Miles and his wife, Amy, were married in 1987.

“Me and my wife have been together 28 years,” Miles said. “Twenty-seven years ago I started working with her father who owned Iowa Soft Water that is in West Des Moines. I basically learned everything I know from my father-in-law.”

Miles was with his father-in-law’s company for five years. Then he joined the team at Crystal Clear Water in Des Moines and was with that company for seven years. After a brief stint with a company back in Missouri, Miles relocated his family to Fort Dodge in 2010 and entered the water treatment world locally.

John and Amy Miles have two teenage children. Parker Miles, 17, is a junior at Fort Dodge Senior High. Sophie Miles, 16, is a sophomore at FDSH.

About Miles Soft Water

Miles Soft Water serves both residential and commercial locations. It sells and services water treatment equipment.

“I am the only one in Fort Dodge that can service every piece of equipment on the market,” John Miles said.

The business is headquartered in the Miles home. Additionally, it has a storage facility elsewhere for products and equipment.

The company offers water analysis and testing.

Water-softening products are just part of the agenda. In addition to water softeners, the business sells reverse osmosis systems, filtration systems and UV sterilization.

Miles said that customization is a key part of the endeavor. He said that especially in rural areas water treatment systems must be expertly tailored to the client’s situation.

“When you get into the country, everything is tailor-made,” Miles said. “Everything has to be chosen according to the conditions of the customer’s water.”

Whether a potential client is in a town or has a rural location, finding just the right mix of products and options to address their needs is a top priority, he said.

“I would love the opportunity to talk in depth about anyone’s concerns and come up with a solution,” Miles said.