Jordan and Stephen Evangelista are the owners of HQ Water Solutions, a water conditioning company based out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2020, HQ provides water filtration and softening systems. 

The company has customers spread across Lancaster County’s agricultural region, where quality well water is a necessity, as well as customers closer to the surrounding cities who rely on public water. But no matter what the customers’ needs are, HQ takes a personalized approach to ensuring that each family it serves receives good, clean drinking water flowing through their home.

Family, Business

The decision to start a family business developed after the Evangelistas’ first daughter was born in 2019. The couple already had ambition and experience, but the desire for schedule flexibility and ownership spurred them to act. 

Stephen Evangelista brought with him a decade of water-treatment experience from the industrial sector; he was a service lead before rising to project manager at an industrial water-treatment company. He holds a certificate in project management from Penn State University and now oversees general day-to-day operations at HQ. 

Jordan Evangelista serves as co-owner and business development executive for HQ. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and now she operates HQ’s bustling social media presence and fills its blog with educational materials for public access. 

The couple’s daughters also serve an important role on the team—not as installation experts (yet), but as participants in marketing and media materials. Jordan also noted that their daughters feel pride when noticing HQ lawn signs, in community sponsorships, or even when spotting the company vehicles driving around town. 

“Our daughters look for those,” she said, “and anytime they see our logo somewhere, they’re like, ‘HQ, that’s our business! That’s so cool!’ It’s a really neat way for them to feel like they have ownership in the business.”

Business for HQ started right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan, still working in her full-time position at the time, was able to work remotely, allowing further flexibility to assist with the increasing responsibilities of HQ’s growing business. And as many readers might recall, the lockdown brought about a renewed interest in personal well-being.

“People were really focused on health, what was going into their bodies, and what was going on around them in their environment,” Jordan recalled. “So we did see an awareness about water quality and enhancing the water that people are drinking and utilizing in their home become more important during that time.”

HQ rose to the occasion, improving the quality and taste of drinking water in the homes of a population whose water-quality awareness and its importance in personal wellness was growing. 

It Takes a Village

The HQ team has worked hard to achieve the level of success it has currently, and team members acknowledge the community support and guidance they have received to bolster their operations. They are members of the regional Eastern Water Quality Association, Water Quality Association, and Manheim Area Chamber of Commerce. 

One organization that the couple mentions as being foundational to HQ’s success is SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon, a local chapter of the nationwide business management consultancy service SCORE. Stephen trained through SCORE’s Five Simple Steps program, which equips small-business owners with an understanding of their needs, the resources to succeed in measured goals, as well as a dedicated mentor who assists the business owners through their journey. 

Jordan considers the course a powerful method of getting their business off the ground, and their success was even recognized by the organization. HQ partnered with Mike Canarelli from SCORE, who served as a mentor.

In March 2023, SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon awarded HQ Water Solutions with its Small Business Development Award, which recognized HQ’s success at earning more than 80 positive reviews and quintupling business in only three years of operation. 

“When starting our business, we had two goals—to support and inspire our local community and to support and inspire our daughters,” said Stephen in a news release. “Winning this award means that we’re headed in the right direction toward both of those goals, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Teaching the Basics

HQ attributes its success to, among other factors, the team’s continued dedication to education. 

While on the job, the team keeps customers informed on the distinct needs of their households when performing free water analyses that identify major elements that residents should be aware of, such as hardness and iron, pH and total dissolved solids, nitrates and alkalinity, as well as the presence of copper from plumbing line corrosion. HQ’s partnership with Simple Labs services allows for hyper-specificity to provide customers the best data to guide their water-treatment needs. 

Likewise, HQ publishes a blog on its website where locals can find out about common water topics, such as the difference between hard and soft water and the function of reverse osmosis. The blog also features best practices and considerations when installing or upgrading for well water or softening systems.

Community Presence

Not only does HQ provide a service to the community by keeping its residents safe and satisfied with good, clean drinking water, but it is also solidifying itself as a pillar of the community by sponsoring community events and establishing a presence. 

HQ team members can be seen operating HQ booths at local fairs and convention events, talking with the public while providing informational handouts on the importance of clean water. HQ’s presence can also be seen when trucks from its fleet join the procession in local celebrations and parades. HQ also supports such events as elementary school fundraisers and community gatherings. 

While Stephen provides water-quality excellence in each home HQ services, Jordan ensures that HQ is doing all it can to provide water-quality excellence across the community. 

“Any chance we get,” Jordan said, “we’re spreading the message of high-quality water.” 

A Growing Family

As operations continue to expand, HQ has been able to bring in new team members. In 2023, HQ welcomed its newest water-treatment technician, Pat, to the team. Pat brings a wealth of experience and passion, and the couple expressed gratitude for his expertise and professionalism.  

Whether at the Evangelista home or in the office, it’s clear that HQ Water Solutions is a family business through and through. With dedication, a passion for the industry, and trustworthiness, Jordan and Stephen ensure that their customers are being supplied with up-to-date information and the best water services possible.

About the author

Keller O’Leary is managing editor at Water Conditioning & Purification International Magazine.