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The Rio Linda News

Bringing Clean Water to Rio Linda

Nov 12, 2024 10:35AM ● By Annie Kerr, photos by Annie Kerr

Sterling Water Supply is located at 440 Elkhorn Blvd., suite number 4, Rio Linda.

 

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Water, although a necessity, isn’t something many residents tend to be picky about.

Alli Ramzan says that should change.

Owner and founder of Sterling Water Supply in Rio Linda, Ramzan aims to provide affordable and pure drinking water to residents. The store, located at 440 Elkhorn Blvd., suite number 4, has been open for a year and a half, according to Ramzan.

“It’s a new take on water,” Ramzan said.

At Sterling Water Supply, purified water and alkaline water are sold by the gallon, as well as ice, snow cones and other supplies.

Upon entering the store, the customer is welcomed by colorful walls, a projector screen airing television on the wall, feel-good music, a fish tank, a couch, a basketball goal for children and a smiling, excited Ramzan.

“I built this business with my own two hands,” he said proudly. “I don’t want to be just another water store that meets California requirements. I want to go above and beyond those requirements to achieve the cleanest possible water.”

According to Ramzan, Sterling Water Supply has the largest purification system in Sacramento, generating 8,000 gallons of water per day. It is also three times larger than any other water store in the area.

Why should residents switch from tap water to purified water or alkaline water?

According to Ramzan, alkaline water is purified, and added with electrolytes, magnesium and calcium, making for an improved digestive system, better night’s sleep and inhibited growth of cancer cells, among more benefits.


Alli Ramzan explains all the equipment necessary to purify water.


Ramzan pointed out that in normal tap water, chemicals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and aluminum are heavily present.

“The municipal companies are adding heavy amounts of chemicals we should not be ingesting just so the water can be bacteria-free,” he added.

Drinking arsenic and mercury daily can lead to long-term health problems, possibly causing cancer, synapses in the brain and leading to early Alzheimer's, according to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

With Sterling Water Supply’s purification system, a $50,000 system shipped in from Iowa, the lab-tested water comes back as “99.97% pure.”

Customers, along with animals, can taste the difference.

Ramzan said that according to his customers, pets massively prefer the purified water to the tap. Restaurant owners frequent the store, as cooking with purified water tastes completely different from cooking with tap water, he said.   

Ramzan values the relationships he builds with customers.

“My motto is: ‘the first time you come in, you’re VIP. The second time you come in, you’re family,’” he said.

One customer, Violet Mondy, said she values Ramzan’s kindness.

“He is very friendly, very helpful, just someone you want to meet,” Mondy said.

So, how did Ramzan get here?

Born in London, Ramzan came to America as a toddler and grew up in New York, where he was studying pre-med, pre-law, eventually earning his master’s degree at New York University (NYU). His experience in corporate finance, accounting and business led him to a career on Wall Street, Ramzan said.  

Eventually, Ramzan took to real estate and property management, where he “ran 5.5 million square feet of property and managed high-rise buildings in Midtown Manhattan.”

Finally, his long-distance relationship with his now wife, who lived in Davis, led him to California 10 years ago.

“I ended up saying to myself, ‘I’m tired of making millions for millionaires,’” Ramzan said. “I wanted to do something pure, where I earned every dollar.”

Ramzan spent a year educating himself on “every aspect” of water, and the idea for Sterling Water Supply was born. According to Ramzan, he wanted the business name to evoke purity and cleanness, and “Sterling” fit that description.


At Sterling Water Supply, customers can get snow cones made from completely purified ice.


Why open in Rio Linda?

“I chose Rio Linda due to the nature of how Rio Linda is,” Ramzan said. “You’ve got that community camaraderie; everybody knows everybody, and I want them to know me.”

Ramzan emphasized his commitment to the community, mentioning his involvement in the Chamber of Commerce and how he helps those in need by serving water to those who ask.

“I don’t want to just sell water. I want to give knowledge and educate the community about it,” Ramzan said. “It’s the main thing our lives depend on that a lot of people don’t know much about.”

“Water should be at its best and should be affordable,” Ramzan said. He sells purified water for $0.45 per gallon, while alkaline water goes for $1 per gallon. A 10-pound bag of purified ice costs $5. Snow cones go between $4 and $6. Curbside service is just a $1 fee. There are also membership and rewards options.

Ramzan hopes to open additional Sterling Water Supply stores.

“This makes me want to wake up every day,” he added.

To learn more about Sterling Water Supply, visit www.sterlingwatersupply.com. The store can be reached at 916-238-4631 or by email at [email protected].