06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 08:09
Fontus Blue, an Akron-based company founded by Dr. Chris Miller, former University of Akron (UA) associate professor of civil engineering, has been acquired by the company USALCO, a national leader in high-performance water treatment chemicals.
Founded in 2011 with support from the UA Research Foundation (UARF), Fontus Blue evolved from university research into a cutting-edge provider of decision support software for water utilities. Its core product, Decision Blue®, is a cloud-based platform that uses advanced algorithms to help water treatment plants monitor source water, optimize chemical dosing, and achieve regulatory and operational goals with precision.
Fontus Blue's solutions are currently used in 15 states, supporting hundreds of treatment plants and impacting the drinking water quality of millions of people. The software helps utilities address a broad range of water quality issues including haziness due to suspended particles, known as turbidity, disinfectant byproducts (DBPs), corrosion, softening and harmful algal blooms
"From day one, Fontus Blue was about empowering water professionals with better data and tools to improve public health," Miller said. "This acquisition by USALCO validates the role digital innovation plays in water treatment and marks an exciting new chapter for expanding our impact across the country."
Miller, who retired from UA in May 2025, spent three decades in the Department of Civil Engineering, focusing his research on drinking water treatment optimization, water quality modeling and regulatory compliance.
Fontus Blue was founded in 2011 as a UA startup, and had licensed from UARF the base technology, which was developed at the University. Although the license has since expired and UA does not own any intellectual property related to the transaction, the acquisition is an achievement for Miller, UA and UARF.
"Fontus Blue's success is a powerful example of how university research can translate into real-world impact," said Dr. Suzanne Bausch, UA's vice president of research and business engagement. "Seeing a company founded on The University of Akron's innovation acquired by an industry leader like USALCO is a proud moment for our institution. It reflects the strength of our research enterprise and our commitment to solving critical challenges such as water quality and treatment solutions."
Fontus Blue participated in UARF's I-Corps program, a nationally recognized initiative that helps researchers and entrepreneurs validate business models through customer engagement and mentorship. The company also received legal and business formation support from the UA School of Law's SEED Clinic, further anchoring its early growth in the university ecosystem. The Clinic provides second- and third-year law students with frontline transactional business experience while supporting University researchers in setting up businesses following UARF's recognition of their commercially viable innovations.
"It's exciting to see how Fontus Blue's dedication in the past 14-plus years is now paying off with this acquisition," said Kelly Bialek, UA director of technology transfer and UARF executive director. "The Office of Technology Transfer and UARF worked closely with Fontus Blue from the beginning to take the research Chris developed and helped transform that single idea into a practical, market ready solution. It underscores the immense value of bridging innovation with implementation and turning vision into measurable outcomes. We are very happy for the company."
Headquartered in Baltimore, USALCO is a leading supplier of aluminum-based water treatment solutions. The acquisition marks a strategic expansion into digital water technologies.
"This acquisition represents a transformative step forward in USALCO's mission to deliver innovative and efficient water treatment solutions," said Ken Gayer, CEO of USALCO. "Fontus Blue's digital expertise complements our core product offerings, enhancing the value we bring to utilities nationwide."
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, cboyd@uakron.edu; 330-972-6476