Epic Water Filters Plans Major Expansion as Demand Surges for New High-Performance Pitcher
Inside a 12,000-square-foot warehouse in north Manatee County, Epic Water Filters is manufacturing roughly 30,000 water filters each month — and preparing for a major expansion that could double that output within the next two years. The Palmetto-based operation, which launched its U.S. manufacturing during the pandemic, is now scaling up again as it prepares to release a new high-performance water pitcher in December.
The new product, called the XP — short for Extra Performance — is expected to increase the company’s production needs significantly. The pitcher is designed to remove contaminants that many traditional filters do not, including parasites, viruses, PFAS, fluoride, and heavy metals. Pitchers make up the majority of Epic’s sales, and company leaders anticipate strong demand once the XP hits the market.
Epic Water Filters, founded in Boulder, Colorado, in 2015, shifted its manufacturing to Manatee County over the past five years after global supply chain disruptions made overseas production difficult. The company’s finance and marketing teams remain in Colorado, while its Florida site houses production, lab testing, and warehouse operations.
Co-founder Joel Stevens says onshoring was essential to maintaining product quality and consistent delivery. The move also allowed the company to build a hyperlocal supply chain: TMF Plastic Solutions manufactures casing components, and Sunshine Automation & Tooling assists with machine design and maintenance — all within Manatee County. The local partnerships also make Epic’s filters fully recyclable, a step the company could not take when sourcing components overseas.
Epic’s proprietary filters use both pleated nano-fiber material and carbon fiber block technology. Filters are tested in the facility’s onsite lab before undergoing additional verification at EPA-accredited laboratories. The company’s products are NSF certified and have earned national recognition, including top rankings from CNN and the Environmental Working Group.
With 16 employees — 12 in Manatee County and four in Boulder — Epic Water Filters now expects to double its workforce within the next 18 months. Manatee Technical College has been a valuable pipeline for skilled manufacturing employees, particularly those trained in factory automation.
To support its growth, the company plans to relocate to a 15,000- to 20,000-square-foot facility capable of handling 18-wheel deliveries, a limitation at its current site. Stevens says the company hopes to stay in Manatee County but may explore nearby Sarasota as an alternative.
Epic’s growth is not limited to domestic sales. Products are already sold worldwide, with distributors in Singapore and, soon, the United Kingdom. Exports currently represent about 5% of total sales but could reach 15% to 20% by 2026.
The company is privately funded and has been entirely bootstrapped since its founding. Stevens says leadership may consider outside investment in the future to accelerate expansion, particularly as demand increases following the launch of the new XP pitcher.
Epic Water Filters grew by 30% last year and expects continued double-digit growth in the year ahead. With increased production capacity, a larger workforce, and expanding global distribution channels, the company is positioning itself for its most significant chapter yet in Manatee County’s manufacturing sector.
