Bottled water is a lucrative business. It’s literally a lifeline in a container. In 2016, bottled water outsold its carbonated competitor for the first time in the US. 

Go into any gas station or corner store and there are entire sections dedicated to the icy beverage. There’s filtered water, distilled water, carbonated water, caffeine water, flavored waters, boxed water and tons of other options. 

While brands range from basic to bourgie, there is a local option sweeping across Milwaukee as the premiere bottled water brand, and it hits all the marks. 

BKlear is a Black-owned, veteran-owned, community-owned alkaline water brand. Unlike some of the most respected bottled water in stores, it also happens to be in an eco-friendly aluminum container. Though it almost sounds too good to be true, BKlear’s mission is about providing new and healthy alternatives to Milwaukee. 

Before trucking thousands of bottles a week, Nurse Mahdi’s mission was to educate the community and improve Milwaukee’s overall health. Whether he was participating at speaking engagements or posting informative videos on social media, his life’s work has been about promoting preventative measures and endorsing healthier options. 

Two years ago, he had an idea for a water business. 

While he never strayed into the for-profit arena, he knew if he was going to put his name onto something, it’d have to be something healthy and affordable. 

He ran the idea past the Funky Fresh Spring Roll master, Trueman McGee. 

“Trueman is probably one of the best spirits I’ve ever met because he wants people to win,” Mahdi said. “I didn’t know anybody else I would have wanted to push this out with.” 

McGee’s Funky Fresh Spring Rolls aligned directly with Mahdi’s vision that healthy can be tasty, affordable and cool. 

At the time, McGee was working with another local brand. Instead of rushing the idea, Mahdi did some deep researching and waited until his ideal business partner was ready. 

He took it upon himself to study the ins and outs of the bottled water business. 

The first step was sourcing the water. 

He spent the year traveling to several distributors and freshwater sources across the country. He was driving to Chicago and flying out to Colorado and California because he wanted the best H2O he could find. 

Madhi said his journey was an eye-opening experience. 

“Some companies weren’t even interested in the health factors behind the water other than the fact that it was liquid in a container,” he said. “I wanted to see where it was coming from because anything I put my face and name behind, I want to do my due diligence.” 

He settled on an alkaline water from a California based company with ties to freshwater springs. After selecting the water, it was time for the other major factor: the bottle. 

Nearly every bottled water brand available is in a plastic bottle. Although the convenience and cheap cost make it marketable, the health factors can be dangerous in the long run. Leaving plastic in direct sunlight or high heat can release carcinogens. After continued exposure, these chemical toxins can lead to disease and other harmful effects. 

“Just taking the chance on your health is not the option you want to take because the odds are against us,” Mahdi said. 

He contemplated all the alternatives. 

“I was thinking glass because it’s the best for everything, but it’s a safety hazard when someone accidentally breaks it,” he said. 

As he cycled through options, aluminum made the most sense. It wouldn’t leach deadly chemicals into the water and it made less of a carbon footprint, since aluminum is one of the most recycled materials. 

“People’s bare minimum are different. For some, the hose hit different as a kid then a glass of tap water. But some people have been drinking alkaline water their entire life before we even knew what it was. There’s more than just tap water, this is high quality water in a high-quality container,” Mahdi said. 

Business Partners, Good People and “Match Made Relationship” 

Mahdi said that even after starting the business during a worldwide Pandemic, the two-year wait was worth it. 

“The whole coming together process was really just the right people, with good intentions, appearing at the right time. It was just perfect timing because I kept moving with it, and now I’m here,” Mahdi said. 

The team consists of Mahdi, McGee, Rayna Andrews (Healthy Food Movement), Tristen and Lloyd White (Motion 22 Three Productions), along with logo design by Ashley Neville’s Ashlaine Designs. 

McGee said he’s excited for the opportunity to elevate the brand outside of the “health conscious community.” 

“When he sent me a picture of the physical bottle, I was like ‘it’s a wrap, let’s go!’” McGee said. “I just knew what it was going to do for the community, and I want to amplify that. Anyway, I can be a catalyst towards success, I’m with it, especially because it’s such a fantastic product.” 

Along with being Funky Fresh Spring Rolls choice water brand, the entire Sherman Phoenix has shown interest in carrying the brand. 

BKlear has grown exponentially. What started with a hundred bottles and several deliveries a week is now turned into getting truckloads and selling by the case. 

More than Just Water, It’s A “Blueprint” 

Within several months, BKlear’s message has swiftly swept across the community. Mahdi said he’s had more people doing promotion for him, just for the love of the brand, than him actually doing any marketing himself. 

From positive product social media reviews to open invitations to farmer’s markets and events, BKlear is clearly doing something right. 

“It’s water. Something that’s so simple, but means so much,” Mahdi said. 

Mahdi added that during this time, where social and political injustices in the Black community were finally being interjected into mainstream conversations, it was important for BKlear’s team to showcase Black entrepreneurs collaborating. 

“It’s important for Black men to showcase when their working together because they always show us hurting each other. We’re also fathers and our collaboration is just going back to the basics of all this is intended for,” Mahdi said. “This isn’t just water. There’s an entire blueprint behind this.” 

As BKlear continues on its path to becoming a household name, Mahdi’s mission remains clear: keep educating the community, continue collaborating and let the product speak for itself. 

“We evolve and have set a new standard. A new level of care for not only ourselves, but the community, and overall that’s what it’s all about,” Madhi said. 

“This is not just for Milwaukee. It’s our opportunity to put a stamp on Milwaukee as the pinnacle of what could be for the rest of the world,” he added.

To order BKlear, click here.