Earth Day: Maintaining Our Commitment to Protecting Our Water Resources

By Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian and Dean E. Dickey, members of Prince William Water’s Board of Directors

At the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelsen said, “Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.” 

We all play a role in protecting the integrity of our environment, including our precious surface and ground water.  As career professionals in environmental engineering, we are writing this Earth Day to highlight Prince William Water’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting our water resources.

Since it was established by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 1983, Prince William Water has delivered safe, reliable drinking water to residents in Prince William County. We also operate the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility, which has earned the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ Platinum Peak Performance Award for 16 consecutive years. This designation of 100% regulatory compliance places Mooney among the top one percent of treatment facilities nationwide. 

Prince William Water customers are served by four water sources—the Potomac River, Occoquan Reservoir, Lake Manassas and a public well system on Bull Run Mountain—providing ample capacity and exceptional water quality. In addition, Prince William Water annually assesses future water needs to align with the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan and the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments planning timeline, currently through 2050.

Regional progress over the past several decades to restore and protect the Occoquan Reservoir shows what long‑term commitment and collaboration can achieve. Decades ago, the Reservoir was a troubled body of water, overloaded with nutrients that resulted in algal blooms, taste and odor issues in drinking water, and periodic fish kills. Following passage of the National Environmental Protection Act, creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and strong regional collaboration, we have achieved success in protecting a healthy Occoquan Watershed. Our “One Water” approach brings together partners in water supply, water reclamation and environmental protection to safeguard this vital drinking water resource for generations to come.

Protecting our watersheds, including groundwater, depends on the choices we make every day. Whether it’s the treatment we apply to make our lawns green or being judicious with the salt we apply in winter weather, it affects our environment. Prince William Water is actively engaged in regional campaigns, like Salt Smarts and Don’t Flush Wipes; providing environmental education programs in partnership with Prince William County Schools; and hosting our award-winning Water Academy. These ongoing efforts are designed to educate each of us on how we can protect our environment. 

Behind the scenes, Prince William Water employees work around the clock to maintain 99.999% service reliability and a world-class system to make sure water flows 24/7/365. Our team is committed to ensuring clean, safe, reliable water every time you turn on the tap—and to returning highly treated water back to the environment. We provide these services as an independent, self-sustaining utility that is funded solely by ratepayer dollars. Further, we focus on providing value to customers, with rates that are considered affordable or low burden using several affordability metrics and an average bill that is among the lowest in the region.    

Of course, issues affecting the Occoquan Reservoir and other water resources—including salinity, PFAS and evolving regulations—require ongoing vigilance and innovation. With the continuation of strong regional partnerships, advanced technology and decades of expertise, we are confident in our ability to protect the Occoquan Reservoir and all of our water sources for the next 50 years and beyond.

This Earth Day, Prince William Water reaffirms our commitment to environmental stewardship and to preserving the water resources that sustain our community—now and for future generations.

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About

Dr. Jack Kooyoomjian represents the Occoquan Magisterial District on the Prince William Water Board of Directors while Dean Dickey represents the Brentsville District. Both have spent decades in professional and community leadership roles to protect the environment in Prince William County and throughout the country.