Town of Holly Springs
Turn on the tap, and clean water streams out seamlessly. Put a load of laundry in the washing machine, and the wastewater disappears instantly. For most people, the complex network of pipes, pumps, and water treatment plants that keeps things flowing remains completely out of sight and out of mind. However, maintaining this critical infrastructure requires strategic planning and substantial capital investment.
To ensure Holly Springs remains resilient in the face of future demands, residents will soon see adjustments to local water and wastewater rates. This rate increase, approved by the Town Council, is a direct investment in securing the Town’s environmental safety, economic growth, and public health for decades to come. It also addresses an issue facing municipalities across the country: aging infrastructure and a growing community that places greater demands on its systems.
“It is easy to view utility bills as a standard monthly expense. In reality, they are a shared investment in the foundational health of a community,” said Holly Springs Town Manager Randy Harrington. “Access to clean water and wastewater services dictates everything from local property values and economic development to the basic health and safety needs of residents.”
To fund critical water and wastewater infrastructure, the approved $11.89 monthly rate adjustment will bring the total monthly water and wastewater bill to $111.30 for a typical residential home in Holly Springs that uses 4,000 gallons.
To put this into perspective, if 4,000 gallons of water were purchased at a grocery store, that volume would translate to 30,240 individual water bottles, which would equal 1,260 cases stacked high on 15 pallets. At an average price of $4 per case, purchasing that same amount of bottled water would cost approximately $5,040. In contrast, the Town delivers 4,000 gallons of clean, highly regulated water to a typical residential home, and safely processes the wastewater from that home for $111.30 a month.
“The utility services the Town provides to residents remain a bargain,” said Harrington. “Expanding our water treatment and wastewater reclamation facilities is a high-tech investment that guarantees this critical resource continues to serve the community for generations.”
Significant Investments Underway
The Town is investing in capacity expansions to secure the community’s water supply and wastewater treatment capacity for years to come. Construction has begun on the largest infrastructure project in the Town’s history: a $240 million expansion of the Utley Creek Water Reclamation Facility. Wastewater management is no longer just about disposal; it is about environmental sustainability. The expanded Utley Creek facility will utilize advanced biological treatment processes to clean wastewater more efficiently before it is safely returned to the environment.
This project will increase wastewater treatment capacity from 6 million to 8 million gallons per day and help ensure that local businesses, housing developments, and public services can continue to grow without overloading ecological systems or risking contamination in local rivers and streams.
For drinking water, Holly Springs has partnered with the City of Sanford and Fuquay-Varina to expand the TriRiver Water Filtration Facility from 12 million to 30 million gallons per day. Construction of a 14-mile water conveyance line to bring fresh water from Sanford to Holly Springs is also underway.
“Securing these critical assets relies on proactive planning and substantial capital funding, and these rate adjustments represent a calculated investment in the community’s resilience, rather than a mere operational cost,” said Harrington.
The Critical Role of Stormwater Infrastructure
While water lines and wastewater treatment systems manage what happens inside a home, the Town’s Stormwater Management Program protects the community from external elements. This program serves a dual purpose: it aims to protect local properties from costly flood damage and safeguards the Town’s natural waterways from harmful environmental contaminants. However, like water lines, the network of infrastructure that handles rainfall requires constant maintenance and improvements.
Currently, engineering assessments have identified $2.5 million in necessary stormwater system repairs and improvements across the town. A fee adjustment was approved by the Town Council to fund these critical investments. The previous stormwater fee of $5.20 per month per residence has remained unchanged since January 2021.
Adjusting the fee to $6.50 a month will fund crucial stormwater infrastructure investments, ensuring neighborhoods in Holly Springs stay dry, roads remain safe during storms, and local ecosystems are protected from polluted runoff.
An Investment in Holly Springs
Residents will see the rate increase reflected in their utility bills starting with those sent on August 31. Adjusting water, wastewater, and stormwater rates is not just about balancing a budget; it is a proactive commitment to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and strengthen the local economy. By making these essential investments today, the Town ensures that Holly Springs remains a safe, resilient, and thriving place to live for decades to come.
