Letters to the Editor, Opinion

HNWS Marks 55 years of Service and Progress

May 28, 2025 | Staff Reporters

This year Holley Navarre Water System (HNWS) celebrates its 55th anniversary as a company. Founded in 1970, the system has grown to currently serve over 17,000 members which is a population of more than 40,000 people. The Board of Directors and I thought this would be a good opportunity to update the community on what’s going on at your local water company. HNWS has not been without challenges over the years, as highlighted by a recent election dispute. However, the current board and staff remain focused on the core mission to efficiently provide its members with safe drinking water and to process wastewater in an efficient environmentally sustainable manner. We have a staff of nearly 70 professionals dedicated to this mission. HNWS operates its water and wastewater systems 24/7, providing an essential service often taken for granted.

Providing safe drinking water requires continuous monitoring, advanced treatment processes, and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Our utility regularly tests water samples for multiple contaminants, as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Among the new regulations that HNWS is tracking are requirements for lead and copper monitoring in piping and plumbing, and new regulations related to PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, a group of synthetic chemicals used in various consumer and industrial products). You can access up-to-date information on our water quality by reviewing the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which is an annual water quality report that community water systems are required to provide to their customers annually by July 1^st. It lists the contaminants found in the water, their levels, and if they meet safety standards. It also indicates whether HNWS followed federal and state drinking water regulations and provides information about potential health effects of certain contaminants, especially for vulnerable populations. I recommend all members take a look at the CCR on our website: https://www.hnws-fl.com/.

Issues facing our wastewater system are centered around aging infrastructure and expanding our effluent disposal capacity. The need to repair and replace aging pipes and facilities is a significant financial burden. Many of HNWS’ facilities were installed in the 1970s and 1980s and are in need of repair or rehabilitation. HNWS is implementing a robust capital improvement program to plan for future growth. Our largest current project and largest capital project in HNWS’ history is the South Santa Rosa Regional Reuse Initiative. This collaboration with Santa Rosa County, the City of Gulf Breeze, and the Northwest Florida Water Management District will allow HNWS to expand its reclaimed water disposal capacity and also allow Santa Rosa County to remove its wastewater effluent discharge from Santa Rosa Sound by constructing rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) on a leased portion of Eglin Air Force Base property.

Another large capital project underway is the elevated tank and booster station located at the intersection of Hwy 98 and SR 87. This project will allow HNWS to not only store additional water but provide booster pumping capabilities to ensure that we can meet future demands and maintain adequate system pressures throughout our system.

Maintaining a high level of service while complying with current regulations requires significant financial resources. We balance the need for investment in the system with ensuring that water remains affordable for all members of our community, especially lower-income households. However, rate adjustments may be necessary at times to fund critical infrastructure upgrades and to ensure long-term reliability. We are committed to being transparent so that our members can trust that we are being good stewards of the funds we receive. It has been our pleasure serving the community’s water supply needs for the past 55 years, and with your support, we look forward to growing together for many more. I encourage you to remain engaged and reach out to myself or our board members with any questions or visit www.hnws-fl.com for the latest updates.

Jeff Crigler is CEO of Holley-Navarre Water System. He also serves as Executive Director of Fairpoint Regional Utility System (FRUS). The HNWS Board meets monthly at 6 p.m., the third Tuesday of each month, at 8574 Turkey Bluff Road.

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