sec document




                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22
                                   NUCO2 INC.
                                                                  March 21, 2003


TO:    Richard D. Waters, Jr.
       2800 S.E. Market Place
       Stuart, Florida  34997

            We are  pleased to inform you that on January 2, 2001,  the Board of
Directors of NuCo2 Inc. (the "Company"), granted you an option (the "Option") to
purchase  10,000  shares (the  "Shares")  of Common  Stock,  par value $.001 per
share, of the Company, at a price of $7.82 per Share.

            The Option may be exercised  prior to January 2, 2011 (on which date
the Option will, to the extent not previously exercised, expire) as follows: (i)
as to  one-fifth  the number of Shares on or after  January 2, 2001,  (ii) as to
one-fifth  the  number  of  Shares  on or after  January  2,  2002,  (iii) as to
one-fifth the number of Shares on or after January 2, 2003, (iv) as to one-fifth
the  number of Shares on or after  January  2, 2004 and (v) as to the  remaining
one-fifth the number of Shares on or after January 2, 2005.

            Unless  at the time of the  exercise  of the  Option a  registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), is in effect
as to such Shares,  any Shares  purchased by you upon the exercise of the Option
shall be acquired for  investment and not for sale or  distribution,  and if the
Company so requests,  upon any exercise of the Option,  in whole or in part, you
will  execute and  deliver to the  Company a  certificate  to such  effect.  The
Company shall not be obligated to issue any Shares pursuant to the Option if, in
the opinion of counsel to the  Company,  the Shares to be so issued are required
to be  registered  or  otherwise  qualified  under  the Act or under  any  other
applicable  statute,  regulation or ordinance  affecting the sale of securities,
unless and until such Shares have been so registered or otherwise qualified.

            You understand and acknowledge  that,  under existing law, unless at
the time of the exercise of the Option a registration statement under the Act is
in effect as to such Shares (i) any Shares purchased by you upon exercise of the
Option  may  be  required  to  be  held  indefinitely  unless  such  Shares  are
subsequently  registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is
available;  (ii)  any  sales  of such  Shares  made in  reliance  upon  Rule 144
promulgated  under  the Act may be made  only in  accordance  with the terms and
conditions of that Rule (which, under certain circumstances, restrict the number
of shares which may be sold and the manner in which  shares may be sold);  (iii)
in the case of securities to which Rule 144 is not  applicable,  compliance with
Regulation A promulgated  under the Act or some other disclosure  exemption will
be required;  (iv)  certificates  for Shares to be issued to you hereunder shall
bear a legend to the effect that the Shares have not been  registered  under the
Act and that the Shares may not be sold,  hypothecated or otherwise  transferred
in the absence of an  effective  registration  statement  under the Act relating
thereto  or an  opinion  of  counsel  satisfactory  to  the  Company  that  such
registration  is not required;  (v) the Company will place an appropriate  "stop
transfer"  order with its transfer  agent with respect to such Shares;  and (vi)
the Company has  undertaken  no  obligation to register the Shares or to include
the Shares in any registration  statement which may be filed by it subsequent to
the issuance of the Shares to you. In addition,  you understand and  acknowledge






that the Company has no  obligation to you to furnish  information  necessary to
enable you to make sales under Rule 144.

            The Option (or installment thereof) is to be exercised by delivering
to the  Company a written  notice of exercise  in the form  attached  hereto and
Exhibit  A,  specifying  the  number of Shares to be  purchased,  together  with
payment of the purchase price of the Shares to be purchased.

            Would you kindly  evidence  your  acceptance  of the Option and your
agreement to comply with the  provisions  hereof by executing  this letter under
the words "Agreed To and Accepted."

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    NuCo2 Inc.



                                    By: /s/ Michael E. DeDomenico
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Michael E. DeDomenico
                                        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

/s/ Richard D. Waters, Jr.
--------------------------
Richard D. Waters, Jr.






                                    Exhibit A
                                    ---------

NuCo2 Inc.
2800 S.E. Market Place
Stuart, Florida  34997

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            Notice is hereby  given of my election  to  purchase  ____ shares of
Common  Stock,  $.001 par value (the  "Shares"),  of NuCo2  Inc.,  at a price of
$_____ per Share,  pursuant to the  provisions of the stock option granted to me
on January 2, 2001. Enclosed in payment for the shares is:

                    my check in the amount of $___________.

            The  following  information  is  supplied  for  use in  issuing  and
registering the Shares purchased hereby:

            Number of Certificates
              and Denominations             _______________________

            Name                            _______________________

            Address                         _______________________

                                            _______________________

            Social Security Number          _______________________


Dated:  ________________,________

                                            Very truly yours,



                                            ------------------------
                                            Richard D. Waters, Jr.