Harnett Regional Water

What Harnett Regional Water does

Harnett Regional Water is a county-owned public water and wastewater utility operated by Harnett County, North Carolina, providing drinking water sourced from the Cape Fear River and wastewater treatment through North Harnett and South Harnett wastewater plants to approximately 125,000 people across Harnett County and the surrounding Cape Fear region. Its core operations include water distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and a fully deployed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network built with Ferguson Waterworks and Sensus that collects 720 hourly reads per meter (replacing prior manual monthly reads), a SCADA system for operational monitoring, and a WaterSmart customer portal launched in July 2024 for usage tracking and leak alerts.

The utility operates as a financially self-sufficient enterprise, generating 100% of revenue from water and sewer user charges without Harnett County tax support, with 72% of monthly bills allocated to treatment/operations/maintenance and 18% to debt service. Its revenue streams combine recurring monthly residential and commercial tiered usage charges (e.g., $22 flat + $5.75/1,000 gallons for residential water), one-time tap and system development fees ($1,200-$6,500 plus AMI meter costs of $425-$2,050), and wholesale bulk water supply to 13+ municipalities and water districts including Fort Liberty, East Moore Water District, Moore County Public Utilities (Pinehurst), Johnston County Utilities, and Aqua NC. Distribution is direct to end customers via online portal, phone, in-person, and drive-thru channels.

Strategically, Harnett Regional Water has earned 15 consecutive years of NC AWOP recognition for exceeding federal and state drinking water standards (including Gold Star honors), invested in capital projects (baffle curtain replacement, multi-year filter media changeout across 12 filters, and a $2.7M school wastewater extension), and is actively executing EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision compliance surveys. As a regulated franchise provider, the utility operates within a bounded service territory with growth driven by regional population expansion and infrastructure modernization rather than market expansion.

Name

Harnett Regional Water

Legal name

Harnett Regional Water

Website

https://harnettwater.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harnett Regional Water is a county-owned public water and wastewater utility in Lillington, NC, serving approximately 125,000 people in Harnett County and the Cape Fear region through Cape Fear River water sourcing, AMI metering, and wholesale supply to 13+ municipalities including Fort Liberty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Dewatering & Water Management Services (Pumping, Treatment, Tailings Water Return) (IMAKAKAI)

Keywords

• Water distribution services
• Wastewater treatment services
• Advanced metering infrastructure
• Public water utility
• Customer water usage portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Lillington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Water and Sewer User Charges: Monthly service charges, water and sewer system development fees, water and/or sewer extension fees, energy charges, tap-on fees, septage hauler waste fees, and inspection/plan review fees. User charges recover costs associated with operations, maintenance, equipment replacement and capital improvements. Approximately 72% of monthly bill goes to treatment/operations/maintenance costs and 18% to debt service.
2. Usage-Based Water and Sewer Rates: Flat rate for first 2,000 gallons plus per-1,000-gallon charges for additional usage. Residential water: $22 flat + $5.75 per 1,000 gallons. Sewer: $16 flat + $6.50 per 1,000 gallons.
3. Tap and Meter Fees: One-time fees for new water and sewer connections including tap-on fees, system development fees, and meter costs.
4. Bulk Water and Capacity Services: Commercial bulk rates, hydrant rates and rental fees, and capacity holder rates for larger users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Harnett Regional Water is a public water and wastewater utility that sources raw water from the Cape Fear River, treats and distributes potable water, and collects and treats wastewater through the North Harnett and South Harnett Wastewater Plants. It serves approximately 125,000 residents of Harnett County and surrounding Cape Fear region municipalities, supported by Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and the WaterSmart customer portal for usage monitoring, leak detection, and billing.

Product overview

Harnett Regional Water is a regional public water and wastewater utility providing service to approximately 125,000 people in Harnett County and the surrounding Cape Fear region. The utility operates as a self-sufficient organization funded entirely through water and sewer user charges. Its core offerings include water distribution sourced from the Cape Fear River and wastewater collection/treatment through two treatment plants. The utility has modernized its infrastructure through an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system that enables automated meter reading with hourly data collection, replacing previous manual monthly reads. The WaterSmart Portal provides customers with real-time usage tracking, leak detection alerts, and conservation tips. Additional services include water quality reporting, water conservation programs, and standard utility billing services with various payment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Distribution Service Continuous potable water distribution service sourced from the Cape Fear River, delivered to approximately 125,000 people across Harnett County and the Cape Fear region through owned water treatment and distribution infrastructure.
• Wastewater Collection and Treatment Wastewater collection and treatment service operated through the North Harnett Wastewater Plant and South Harnett Wastewater Plant, serving residential, commercial, and institutional customers across the service area.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Automated meter reading system using Sensus wireless and radio frequency technology to transmit hourly water usage data from individual meters to antenna/collectors at county-owned water tanks, with data encrypted. Replaces manual monthly reads with 720 reads per month per meter, supporting AMI-based billing and operational analytics.
• WaterSmart Portal Digital customer portal that integrates with AMI data to allow customers to view and track hourly water usage, set alerts for possible leaks or unusual consumption, and access water conservation tips. Free service included for all HRW customers.
• Annual Water Quality Report Statutorily required annual drinking water quality report detailing the source of water, constituents detected, and comparison against federal and state drinking water standards, distributed to all customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 720 reads per month with AMI vs. 1 read per month with manual meters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ferguson WaterworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationFerguson Waterworks serves as the prime vendor for AMI water metering technology. Selected through comprehensive competitive bid process. Ferguson is a distributor of Sensus advanced metering solutions. The AMI system provides significant improvements to customer service and greater utility operational efficiencies through automated meter reading and real-time usage data.
• Sensus (Xylem Inc.)coreTechnology or IntegrationSensus, a meter manufacturer and advanced metering solutions company, provides the AMI technology deployed by Harnett Regional Water. Technology uses wireless and radio frequency to transmit hourly water usage data from meters to collectors.
• MeterSYSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMeterSYS, a Raleigh-based advanced metering services consulting firm, provides project management throughout the AMI meter implementation. Assists with deployment of thousands of County water meters and installation of County-wide AMI network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Middlesex Water Company: Investor-owned water and wastewater utility in New Jersey and Delaware with a smaller mid-Atlantic footprint. Comparable in scale and regulated utility business model focused on water treatment, distribution, and customer-side AMI/engagement investments.
• California Water Service Company: Investor-owned water utility serving California, Hawaii, Washington, and New Mexico. Comparable regulated water utility business model with similar customer-portal technology investments, conservation rate design, and AMI infrastructure programs; regional peer rather than direct NC competitor.
• York Water Company: Oldest investor-owned water utility in the U.S., serving south-central Pennsylvania. Comparable small/mid-cap regulated water utility with similar focus on water quality, customer service, and infrastructure modernization; useful scale benchmark for a regional water operator.
• SJW Group: Investor-owned water utility holding company operating in California, Texas, and Connecticut. Comparable in core business model (regulated water and wastewater services), emphasis on infrastructure modernization, and rate-base growth strategy; not geographically overlapping but structurally comparable.
• Raleigh Water (City of Raleigh Public Utilities): Municipal water/wastewater utility serving Raleigh, NC. Comparable NC municipal utility with similar regulatory regime, treatment infrastructure, AMI rollout trajectory, and customer portal/digital engagement initiatives; serves as a benchmark for regional water utility operations in North Carolina.
• Charlotte Water: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Charlotte, NC and surrounding Mecklenburg County. Comparable in being a publicly operated utility in North Carolina with similar regulatory exposure (NCDEQ), customer base structure (residential + commercial + wholesale), and AMI/digital customer engagement investments.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S., operating in 14 states. Provides the same core service (regulated potable water and wastewater treatment) with similar AMI modernization programs and customer-portal offerings; broader portfolio and geographic footprint than Harnett Regional Water but directly comparable business model.
• Veolia Water North America: Global water and wastewater services provider operating municipal and industrial treatment contracts across the U.S. Comparable to Harnett Regional Water in core treatment operations, AMI deployment, and digital customer platforms; broader geographic and service portfolio.

Others

• Sensus (Xylem): Technology vendor whose AMI metering platform Harnett Regional Water actually deployed (via Ferguson Waterworks). Included as an ecosystem/adjacent peer given the close technology partnership; comparable in shaping how small/regional water utilities operationalize AMI and customer data.

Direct peers

• Aqua North Carolina (Essential Utilities): Investor-owned water and wastewater utility serving communities across North Carolina, including being an existing wholesale customer of Harnett Regional Water. Most directly comparable peer in NC; both deliver regulated water/wastewater services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers with similar rate structures and regulatory oversight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harnett-regional-water

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harnett Regional Water