Atlantic Filter Corporation was founded by Wallace S. Wakem in 1955, and established as a wholesale only company selling directly to plumbers, well drillers and plumbing suppliers in Palm Beach County. By 1960 a retail division and the wholesale operation was expanded to cover the entire state of Florida. In 1980 Founder and President Wallace S. Wakem retired and was succeeded by both his sons Peter and James Wakem, who joined Atlantic Filter Corporation in the early 1970's.

After taking over the company, Peter and James Wakem added the HERO division which produced state-of-the-art reverse osmosis systems for home and industry. They were pioneers in the development of small, affordable residential reverse osmosis systems. Peter also sold, designed, manufactured and oversaw the installaton of some major accounts which included the St. Mary's Hospital in Riviera Beach, Fl, the J.F.K Hospital in Atlantis, Fl and the IBM headquarters in Boca Raton, Fl. During this time he helped expand Atlantic Filter's products into the Central and South American markets. In 1985 Peter and James Wakem built Atlantic Filter Corporation's administrative headquarters and manufacturing facility, located at 3112 45th Street, in West Palm Beach, Florida. That same year Peter opened their first satellite retail store.

In 1989 Peter moved his family to the West Coast of Florida and opened the first Clean Water America retail water store, which incorporated some pool products. Soon Peter Wakem was counting among his clients the Naples Ritz Carlton, and the Port Royal Club as well as many thousands of homeowners in Collier and Lee County. He has expanded his market into Central America, specifically Belize with a major system at the Jaguar Paw Jungle Resort and even into Bed and Breakfasts in northern Florida. In 1999 Clean Water America moved the corporate headquarters and service departments to their new Ft Myers location at 15500 S. Tamiami Trail. Clean Water America is SW Florida's largest authorized Atlantic Filter dealer.

Peter Wakem is a Water Quality Association Certified Water Dealer #5

1978 1982 1985

Water Quality General Certification #09-917 Reverse Osmosis and Ultrafiltration Certification #09-917R Filtration Certification #09-917F Water Disinfection Certification #09-917D Demineralization by Ion Exchange Certification #09-917DI