Water Service

PWC is committed to supplying safe water that meets or surpasses state and federal standards and achieves the highest standards of customer satisfaction. PWC draws water from two independent water sources, the Cape Fear River and Glenville Lake. The P.O. Hoffer and Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facilities have a combined treatment capacity of 58 million gallons a day (MGD), with an average demand of 25.07 MGD in FY2025. PWC’s all-time peak demand of 42.25 MG has remained unchanged since 1999. The peak consumption for FY2024 was 33.043 MG and occurred on June 24, 2025.

PWC provides water services to over 225,000 customers both inside and outside the city, across residential, commercial, and industrial customer classes, as well as City and PWC facilities. This includes the 1998 merger with the Town of Hope Mills. PWC also provides wholesale water service on a contract basis to Spring Lake, Stedman, and Hoke County. In 2010, PWC, along with the Harnett County Public Utilities Department, began supplying Fort Liberty through a 40-year contract with the Department of Defense.

During FY2025, 10.646 billion gallons of drinking water were treated. After treatment, water is delivered to customers through an extensive distribution system consisting of over 1,419 miles of underground piping. Current projections indicate that the population served by PWC will exceed 300,000 by the year 2030, with a total system demand approaching 48 MGD.

PWC has utilized chloramination as its disinfection method since 2003. In 2008, PWC implemented year-round outdoor watering schedules to support water conservation efforts and better manage its system during peak demands.

PWC earned the distinction of being the first utility in North Carolina to be recognized with the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water’s Director’s Award for outstanding commitment to quality drinking water treatment. Every year since receiving the award in 2000, PWC has continued to maintain the award’s exacting standards. In 2025, PWC was recognized for meeting the standards for 25 consecutive years. In FY2025, both PWC water treatment facilities once again met all criteria for the Partnership’s Director’s Award and the NCDEQ Area Wide Optimization Program award. PWC is a charter member of the Partnership for Safe Water Distribution System Optimization program, which focuses on the operation and maintenance of our distribution system.

Fayetteville Drinking Water History

The first water service in Fayetteville was installed before the Civil War, and the source of water was Fountainhead Spring. Water traveled by gravity through hollow logs to the heart of the city. Some of the logs that have been excavated in recent years are still in good condition, although unused for many years.

The first organized effort to supply water to Fayetteville was by the Robinson Family in the 1890s, when Glenville Lake was formed. At that time, it was known as Robinson’s Pond. This system was taken over by Mr. Richardson from New York, who later sold it to McNeill. In 1903, McNeill sold the system to the City of Fayetteville.

The first water filtration plant was installed by PWC on Glenville Lake in 1912. The contractor agreed to complete the plant for $18,000. The first building stands on the opposite side of the lake from the present Glenville Lake Plant. The original capacity of this plant was 1 MGD of treated water.

The present plant on Glenville Lake was built in 1942 with a 3 MGD capacity. Fayetteville’s population at that time was 18,000 people. The plant was expanded in 1949 to 5 MGD, in 1954 to 8 MGD, in 1961 to 12 MGD, and in 1994 to its ultimate capacity of 18 MGD.

Contracts were awarded in July 1967 for the construction of a second water purification plant, located on the Cape Fear River. This new plant was designed so that it could be expanded in increments to an ultimate treatment capacity of 96 MGD. Named in honor of P.O. Hoffer, a former chairperson of PWC, the Hoffer Plant initially treated 8 MGD. In 1975, an 8 MGD expansion brought the treatment capacity to 16 MGD, and a 16 MGD expansion was completed in May 1988 which gave the P.O. Hoffer Plant a treatment capacity of 32 MGD. In 2005, PWC received approval from the State of North Carolina to increase Hoffer’s maximum capacity to 39.5 MGD.

Phase 1 of a 3-phase, 6-year upgrade and expansion began at the P.O. Hoffer WTF in 2014. Phase 1A and 1B dealt primarily with reliability improvements. Phase 1A was completed in January of 2017. Phase 1B was completed in February 2018. Phase 2A construction is underway with an anticipated completion date of March 2026. When complete, Phase 2A will add a Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) bulk facility, Electrical Building with new Motor Control Centers, a Chloramine Mixing Vault, High Service Valve replacement, and a SCADA upgrade for Glenville Lake. Construction of the Granulated Active Carbon Facilities at both facilities is expected to begin in 2026, with an expected completion of 2029 to ensure compliance with the recently applied regulations regarding PFAS contamination in our source water(s).

Through the foresight of Fayetteville’s forefathers, the citizens of Fayetteville have, in their PWC, a significant community asset with a proud history. PWC has kept abreast through the years with the demands for a water utility to serve the rapidly growing city and the surrounding urbanized areas.

Drinking Water Facts

Customers (as of June 30, 2025):

Total: 98,337
Residential: 89,675
Non-Residential: 8,630
Large User: 22
Wholesale: 10
Population Served: 225,000+

Treatment

Combined Treatment Capacity: 50 MGD
Annual Daily Pumping Average: 25.07 MGD
System Peak Demand: 42.25 MGD (June 8, 1999)
FY2025 Peak Demand: 33.04 MG (June 24, 2025)
FY2025 Total Water Treated: 10.646 billion gallons

Distribution & System Storage

Water Mains Owned by PWC: 1,438 miles
Water Mains Operated/Maintained by PWC: 18 miles*
Water Meters: 105,122
Booster Pump Stations: 6
Fire Hydrants Owned by PWC: 8,676
Fire Hydrants Operated/Maintained by PWC: 104*
Effective Storage Capacity: 36.5 MG
Elevated Storage Tanks: 7 total (1 MG: 4; 500,000 G: 1; 400,000 G: 1; 100,000 G: 1)
Ground Storage Tanks: 1 (5 MG)
Clearwell Storage Tanks: 5 total (1.5 MG: 1; 4 MG: 2; 5 MG: 1; 12 MG: 1)

* Stedman

Water Treatment Facilities

Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facility

Built: 1942
Source Waters: Glenville Lake, Cape Fear River
Original Capacity: 3 MGD
Expansions: 5 MGD (1949), 8 MGD (1954), 12 MGD (1961), 18 MGD (1994)
Current Capacity: 18 MGD
12-Month Daily Avg: 9.641 MGD
12-Month Daily Max: 13.985 MGD
12-Month Total: 3518.78 MG
Expansion Plans: None at present time; however, additional treatment units may be needed to meet Safe Drinking Water Act requirements; a SCADA upgrade is currently underway; Construction of the Granulated Active Carbon (GAC) facility is expected to begin in 2026, with an expected completion of 2029 to ensure compliance with the recently applied regulations regarding PFAS contamination in our source water(s)
Features: Three 6 MGD Pumps located to treat water from Glenville Lake and Glenville Raw Water Station located on the Cape Fear River with a 36” raw water transmission main that allows GLWTF to treat river water as well. In 2003, the disinfection process switched from chlorination to chloramination.
Awards: NCDEQ State Area Wide Optimization Program Award (2024); NC AWWA-WEA Walter Courmon Safety Award (2016)

P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facility

Built: 1969
Source Water: Cape Fear River
Original Capacity: 8 MGD
Expansions: 16 MGD (1975), 32 MGD (1988)
Filter Uprating Approval: 39.5 MGD (2005)
Current Capacity: 39.5 MGD
12-Month Daily Avg: 19.526 MGD
12-Month Max: 25.351 MGD
12-Month Total: 7126.89 MG
Expansion Plans: A 3-phase, multi-year upgrade began in 2014; Phase 1A was completed in January 2017, Phase 1B completed in February 2018; Phase 2A is currently underway that includes a Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) bulk facility, Electrical Building with new Motor Control Centers, a Chloramine Mixing Vault, and High Service Valve replacement; Construction of the Granulated Active Carbon (GAC) facility is expected to begin in 2026, with an expected completion of 2029 to ensure compliance with the recently applied regulations regarding PFAS contamination in our source water(s); Construction on Phase 2B is contingent on future water demands.
Features: In 2003, the disinfection process switched from chlorination to chloramination.
Awards: NCDEQ State Area Wide Optimization Program Award (2024); NC AWWA-WEA Walter Courmon Safety Award (2016)

Water Treatment Process

While the treatment process varies slightly at our two water treatment facilities (WTFs), the basic steps are similar.

The Disinfection Method

PWC uses chloramination as our main disinfectant. Chloramine inactivates and prevents pathogen growth in our system by utilizing both ammonia and chlorine. Ammonia is added to the water at a carefully controlled level, and the chlorine and ammonia react chemically to produce chloramines. This method inactivates the COVID-19 virus as well as other coronaviruses. Chloraminated drinking water is safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other daily water uses. However, there are two groups of people who need to take particular care with chloraminated water: customers who use drinking water for kidney dialysis machines and fish owners. For more information on chloramination, including special precautions these special groups should take, contact PWC.

As an extra measure of safety, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) requires all water systems using chloramination to suspend the addition of ammonia for a one-month period each year. We do this each March to prevent any biological growth and nitrification from occurring in the water distribution system.

The Treatment Process

PWC operations and maintenance staff at our facilities are committed to providing safe, high quality drinking water for our customers. When raw surface water enters the facility, ferric sulfate is added, causing small particles to adhere to one another. This makes the particles heavy enough to settle out of the water in a sedimentation basin. The water is then filtered through sand and anthracite to remove any remaining fine particles. Ammonia and chlorine are added to kill harmful bacteria, protozoans, and viruses. Lime or caustic soda and a corrosion inhibitor are added to minimize the potential for dissolving lead solder in copper piping in older household plumbing. Fluoride is added as an aid in preventing tooth decay. Both facilities also add powdered activated carbon to reduce substances that produce unpleasant tastes and odors. Treated water proceeds through a series of pumps and storage facilities before being delivered to your home.

Where Does Your Water Come From?

All the water treated by PWC is “surface water.” The water processed at our P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facility comes from the Cape Fear River. Water processed at our Glenville Lake Facility comes from the Cape Fear River, Big Cross Creek, and the Little Cross Creek Watershed, which contains four bodies of water used for water storage: Bonnie Doone Lake, Kornbow Lake, Mintz Pond, and Glenville Lake. Both treatment facilities provide water to our general distribution system, so the water you drink is a blend of water we process from these sources.

Awards & Recognitions

Partnership for Safe Water

Director’s Award (25 Years)

North Carolina Waterworks Operators Association

A-Surface Operator of the Year: Gary Thompson (2021), David Faircloth (2020), David Robinson (2018)
C-Surface Operator of the Year: John Cummings (2023), DeQuante Moore (2021)
Outstanding Operator of the Year: Delmer Coffman (2023), Chris Smith (2018)
Lifetime Member Award: Delmer Coffman (2022), David Robinson (2021), Gary Thompson (2021), Chris Smith (2017)
President’s Award: Chris Smith (2015)
Educator of the Year: Jason Green (2023)

North Carolina Waterworks Operators Association – Southeast Section

Thomas C. Flowers Award for Outstanding Service: Delmer Coffman (2022), Jason Green (2021), Chris Smith (2008)

North Carolina One Water

Golden Manhole Award: John Allen (2018)
Best Tasting Water Competition: 3rd Place: Glenville Lake & P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facilities (2018), 1st Place: Glenville Lake & P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facilities (2005)
Walter Courmon Safety Award: P.O. Hoffer & Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facilities (2015)

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Area Wide Optimization Program Award:
- P.O. Hoffer Water Treatment Facility: 2024-2025, 2023-2024, 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2012-2013, 2011-2012
- Glenville Lake Water Treatment Facility: 2024-2025, 2023-2024, 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2012-2013

Cape Fear River Assembly

J.W. Pate Award: Chad Ham (2016), Steve Blanchard (2009), Tim Wood (1991), Ray Muench (1989)

Water Service

Drinking Water Facts

Water Treatment Facilities

Water Treatment Process

Awards & Recognitions

Water Resources

Water Quality