MECO Expands Bay Area Presence to Support Life Science and Healthcare Innovation
New regional team strengthens MECO’s support for laboratories, biotechnology, and healthcare facilities across Northern California.
MECO is deepening its roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, strengthening its commitment to serving one of the world’s most innovative life sciences regions. With an expanding customer base and growing demand for high-purity water solutions, MECO has established a local team dedicated to supporting laboratories, biopharmaceutical facilities, healthcare, and research organizations throughout the Bay Area.
Dedicated Local Leadership
The Bay Area team is led by Regional Manager Rick Hilton and Service Manager Zachary Harrell, both bringing extensive industry experience and a shared commitment to service excellence.
Rick Hilton joins MECO with over 30 years of experience providing water treatment, specialty chemical, and environmental services throughout Northern and Central California. Prior to joining MECO, he served as an Executive Account Manager at Evoqua Water Technologies, where he supported life sciences and industrial customers across the region in improving water quality and system reliability. His career also includes senior roles at Univar Solutions, Calgon Corporation, and Sierra Environmental Services, where he partnered with customers to enhance water quality, optimize treatment performance, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve operational efficiency.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Rick spent more than eight years in the Naval Nuclear Power Program, managing chemistry,radiological controls, and fluid mechanical systems onboard a nuclear aircraft carrier. He holds a degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison State University.
“The Bay Area’s life science and healthcare community drives some of the most important innovation in the world,” says Hilton. “We’re building on MECO’s legacy in critical water systems by expanding local support for pure and ultrapure water customers through the Water Works portfolio.”
Zachary Harrell brings more than 15 years of field service experience in water treatment system installation, maintenance, and DI exchange. Before joining MECO’s Water Works division, Zachary worked as a Senior Field Technician with Evoqua Water Technologies, providing technical support for high-purity systems across the western United States. He also held service and installation roles at Culligan International and Pacific Water Systems, where he gained deep expertise in system performance and customer support.
Together, Rick and Zachary lead a growing regional network that provides ultrapure and purified water systems, DI exchange services, and preventive maintenance programs—delivering responsive, reliable support to customers across Northern California.
Powering Innovation Locally
For nearly a century, MECO has engineered and manufactured advanced water purification systems that serve the world’s most critical industries. Expanding local presence in the Bay Area ensures faster response times, dedicated service, and greater collaboration with the region’s life sciences community.
“The Bay Area is home to some of the most exciting advancements in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals,” says Krista Kern, Head of MECO Sales. “Our local presence allows us to better support the scientists and engineers driving those breakthroughs.”
From purified water to WFI generation to ultrapure water, and DI exchange services, MECO continues to deliver the expertise and reliability trusted by global innovators.
We bring the ultrapure water — you bring the breakthroughs.