Springtime Water Quality Programs Begin This Month

WOODBRIDGE, VA, Mar 18, 2025 — Between March and May 2025, Prince William Water will undertake two annual programs designed to ensure the continued quality of drinking water distributed to over 380,000 people in Prince William County.

First, Prince William Water will conduct its water distribution system flushing program between March 24 and May 12, 2025. Prince William Water personnel and trucks will be stationed at various locations throughout the utility’s service area to complete the flushing process. Crews will open hydrants to forcefully push water through the pipes, helping to dislodge any sediments and minerals that may have accumulated over the past year. 

Customers may experience a brief period of cloudiness in their water as sediments are agitated in their local pipes. If this occurs, customers can run cold tap water for approximately two minutes until the cloudiness dissipates. 

"Our annual spring flushing program is a best management practice to safeguard water quality within the distribution system and is endorsed by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Health," explained Doug Shoop, Director of Operations and Maintenance. 

Also, during the spring, Prince William Water’s drinking water providers--Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas—will temporarily change the primary disinfectant in their water treatment process from chloramines to free chlorine. Our water providers indicate that this annual disinfectant change facilitates an effective flushing program for the distribution system and is a drinking water industry best practice. 

If you are sensitive to a slight chlorine taste and smell in your tap water, which may occur during the disinfectant conversion, you can use water filters or refrigerate water for a short time to reduce chlorine taste and odor.

To learn more about these water quality programs, visit our Spring Flushing Frequently Asked Questions. For updates specifying the areas and times where our crews are flushing, visit Prince William Water's Facebook and X pages.

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Prince William Water has been providing drinking water and water reclamation services for Prince William County since 1983.