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About McCowin Water
John McCowin started this company in Southern California in 1972. His son Brian runs it today with Dava, out of a showroom at 222 Goddard in Irvine. Same name on the door, same phone number, same county the whole time. That's not a marketing angle, it's just what happened.
Family owned, not a franchise. · Our own technicians. · Come see the showroom.
800+ five star reviews across Orange County
Our showroom at 222 Goddard, Irvine. Open Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. You're welcome to come look at the equipment before anybody comes to your house.
How we got here
There's no acquisition story here, no private equity chapter, nobody bought the name off somebody else. It's just been the same family doing the same work in the same place.
1972
Before filtration was a marketing category, John McCowin went into business in Southern California with a fairly plain idea about how it ought to work. Systems that do the job. Installs that hold up. Service that actually shows up. And a water test that tells the customer the truth, even when the truth doesn't sell anything.
He didn't set out to build a big company. He built a standard, and it's the reason his son still gets up in the morning.
The 1980s
While other kids were at the beach, Brian McCowin spent his summers hauling tanks, learning copper angles and finding out firsthand what hard water does to a good house.
He saw both sides of this business early. Families sold overpriced, mismatched systems and left with no recourse when it went wrong. And the other thing, the moment a customer turns on the tap and says wait, this actually feels different.
1999
He tested the world first. Ran top tier hotels and restaurants, managed multimillion dollar facilities, moved up quickly in corporate America. By most measures it was going well.
"I was succeeding, but I wasn't serving. I couldn't ignore the voice telling me to go back and finish what my father started."
So in 1999 he came home to McCowin Water, with the intention of making it better than he found it.
2008 to 2011
Dava McCowin came out of health and wellness, where she spent decades managing elite dental practices and high end health clubs across Orange County. That work is all about personalized service, preventative care, and what it actually takes to make somebody feel looked after.
She started helping part time in 2008 and went all in by 2011.
"I realized I could help more people with water than I ever could behind a front desk. It wasn't a career change, it was a deeper version of the same job."
She runs operations today, and the service standards this company is known for are largely hers.
Today
More than 8,000 Orange County homes and 800 plus five star reviews. The team is small enough that you get to know the people working on your house, and often the technician who comes back for service is one you have already met. Customers name our people by name in their reviews, which tells you more about how this place runs than anything we could write about ourselves.
How we work
Most water companies aren't bad at water treatment. They're bad at listening, because the business model is built around moving inventory rather than understanding your house. That one difference explains most of the systems we get called out to look at.
We measure hardness, chlorine, total dissolved solids, pH and your water pressure at your own tap. You get the numbers written down and you keep them. No theatrics, no props, no pressure. Sometimes the honest answer is that you don't need much, and you'll hear that from us too.
Your home, your plumbing, your water, your actual daily usage. We're independent, so we're not required to sell one manufacturer's box regardless of whether it fits. We build from the parts that suit your situation.
No lazy placement, no pressure problems designed in from day one, no connection quietly waiting to leak in three years. Drain lines, power and plumbing are part of the job rather than a surprise line item afterward.
We check back in. We maintain what we installed. We answer the phone when something isn't right, because a system is only as good as the company that picks up when it goes wrong. That part does not depend on any one person still working here.
If you're tired of smelly water, hard scale and appliances that keep dying early, call us. If all you want is somebody to tell you the truth about what's in your water, we'll still show up, and it still costs nothing.
Get tested. Get clarity. Then decide what you want to do about it, on your own timeline.
The owners
Two people, one company, and the same last name that's been on it since 1972.
Brian McCowin
Owner
Grew up in his father's water business, left to run hotels and restaurants, then came back in 1999 to finish what John started. If you ask him a technical question you should expect a long answer, because he genuinely likes this stuff.
He also still goes out on appointments himself, which is why his name turns up in the reviews more than any owner's name reasonably should.
Dava McCowin
Owner, Operations
Came out of decades in health, wellness and high end patient care, running elite dental offices and health clubs across Orange County. Joined part time in 2008 and full time in 2011.
She runs operations, and if your appointment goes smoothly, if somebody follows up when they said they would, that's usually her standard you're experiencing.
The team
We're a small team, and people here tend to stick around a while. Like any company we see some turnover, but you're dealing with a handful of familiar faces rather than a rotating cast. These are the names that show up in our reviews.
Mandy
Office Manager
Joined in April 2021, bringing customer service experience from her previous work as a commercial insurance agent. She and her husband Pablo have five kids and live in Foothill Ranch. Outdoors, sports and the beach take up most of the weekends.
"It means a lot to be part of a company that truly cares about their customers and treats everyone like family."
Monique
Scheduling Manager
Originally from LA County and a Saddleback College alum, where she was on the cheer team. She came to us with about ten years of customer service behind her. Cooking, true crime podcasts, all things Disney, and her cat.
"I look forward to taking care of our customers and continuing this great legacy."
Joel
Service Technician
Joel came to us through Monique, picked up the trade fast, and turned into a proficient service technician and installer. Outside work it's video games, stock trading and whatever his car needs that week.
Fred Smith
Marketing and Advertising
Fred handles how McCowin shows up in front of Orange County homeowners. A Marine Corps veteran, he came into this with a fairly simple opinion about advertising in the home services world: most of it treats people like targets, and it doesn't have to.
His job here is to make sure the people who need straight answers about their water can find them, before anybody tries to sell them something.
From our customers
Ten of them below. Notice how often people name the individual who came out, because that is the part we care most about getting right.
Cindi Policastro
Costa Mesa homeowner
“We love your company and we so love Brian. He is the best. He really knows everything about water. He is just a phone call away.”
She wrote that the team always says welcome to our family, and that she wishes she had done it sooner.
Kathy Leedom
Irvine homeowner
“He was thorough, answered all my questions, and couldn't have been nicer.”
On Brian explaining the system, then Joel coming out a few days later to install the tanks and walk her through how it all works.
Mike Michino
Google review
“Meticulous, and complete in every detail. They do not cut any corners.”
On his annual service visit. He wrote that the technician jumbled the controls on purpose and had him reprogram the unit himself, so he could do it after they left.
Ethan Blair
Google review
“We have been with McCowin water for 7 years and only encountered positive results.”
On quoting, scheduling, service and follow up across seven years as a customer.
Henry Novell
Google review
“Good company. Answered every question I had.”
After a Hague water softener and reverse osmosis installation.
Tom Phillips
Google review
“Very friendly and professional technician. Great customer skills as well.”
He wrote that the tech couldn't say enough nice things about the company he works for.
Tom Atkins
Google review
“Good company. High integrity.”
Several years as a customer. Brian came out personally on his most recent visit.
Juliet Williams
Google review
“Maaison was great and super helpful! Very professional and thorough.”
On a recent service appointment.
Jennifer Hill
Costa Mesa homeowner
“They're so professional and helpful. I feel completely safe with their system in my home.”
She described the team as reliable and trustworthy, and said that's rare these days.
Ron Calvarese
Long time customer
“It's rare to see such a commitment these days, and it feels like being part of a family.”
On the ongoing service after the install, which is the part he says stands out.
About us FAQ
Since 1972. John McCowin started the company in Southern California, and his son Brian runs it today with Dava McCowin. That makes it one of the longest running water treatment companies in Orange County, and it has been the same family the entire time.
Neither. We are independently and family owned out of Irvine. When you call, you reach our office at 222 Goddard. When a truck shows up, it is our technician on our payroll. We are not required to sell one manufacturer's equipment, which is why we can recommend whatever actually fits your water.
One of our own technicians, never a subcontractor. We are a small team and people here tend to stay a while, so you are dealing with familiar faces rather than whoever a staffing agency sent this week. Customers name our technicians in their reviews, which tells you more about how this place is run than anything we could write here.
Yes, and we would rather you did. We are at 222 Goddard in Irvine, CA 92618, open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday by appointment. You can see the equipment, ask questions and meet the people before anyone comes to your house. Call (949) 569-5736 first so somebody is expecting you.
We test before we recommend anything. Most of this industry is built around moving inventory, so the recommendation is decided before anybody looks at your water. We measure your hardness, chlorine, total dissolved solids, pH and water pressure first, write the numbers down, and hand them to you. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need much, and you will hear that from us too.
Yes. McCowin Water, Inc. is a licensed and insured California contractor holding CSLB license C-55 #1022717, which is the classification for water conditioning work. All installation is performed to applicable state and local codes.
Either way it starts the same. We test your water, write down the numbers, and tell you the truth about what they mean. It's free, there's nothing to buy, and you keep the report.
222 Goddard, Irvine, CA 92618. (949) 569-5736. Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. Saturday by appointment.
