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 In comparison with other local jurisdictions, Prince William Water’s rates in Fiscal Year 2025 remain competitive.

Prince William Water’s goal is to set fair and equitable rates and fees while providing clean, safe, reliable drinking water to our customers and to protect the environment. This means ensuring that Prince William Water’s infrastructure is well-maintained and in good working condition, which requires a significant capital investment every year. The adopted rates for 2025-2027 are primarily driven by capital replacement needs, the rising cost of construction, as well as increases in purchased drinking water, purchased water reclamation services and other operating costs.

Prince William Water purchases most of its drinking water from advanced treatment plants owned and operated by Fairfax Water. Wholesale water rates charged by Fairfax Water have increased significantly over the past few years. Prince William Water also purchases water reclamation services from the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) to serve a portion of our customers. Recently, UOSA treatment costs have also increased considerably.

In addition, the updated rates and fees are also required to properly maintain our infrastructure, meet or exceed environmental regulations, and continue delivering the high-quality, reliable service our customers expect from Prince William Water.

At its November 14th, 2024 meeting, the Board approved the rates included in this Public Notice, which details all rates and fees starting January 1, 2025. For additional questions, please contact Customer Service at 703-335-7950 or customerservice@pwwater.org.

As a property owner, you are responsible for replacing the line from the meter to your house and the premise plumbing. If the customer portion of the service line is determined to be lead, the customer may choose to replace it at their expense but should coordinate the replacement with Prince William Water in advance to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project’s (SERCAP) Residential Lead Service Line Program provides up to $2,500 in grant funding toward the costs of replacing lead service lines coming into the home for eligible low-to-moderate income homeowners. Contact SERCAP at 540-345-1184 or visit online at https://sercap.org for more information. If you need more information about potential financing solutions or if you are planning to replace the portion of the service line that you own, please contact us at leadandcopper@pwwater.org or 703-335-7950.

Review your water bill monthly so you are familiar with how much water your household uses throughout the year. Visit our Wise Water Use Tips page to learn about wise water use like checking for leaks and addressing them in a timely manner, monitoring outdoor water use, and other suggestions that might apply to your household. In addition, you can visit our Financial Assistance webpage for more information about financial assistance for your water bill. 

A typical residential customer uses 5,000 gallons of water monthly, which results in the following monthly water and sewer bills for the years 2025, 2026 and 2027. The new rates take effect on January 1 of each year. 

Prince William Water has identified a group of commercial water customers whose usage patterns vary significantly from the overall commercial customer class. This group of customers is comprised of large (at least 50 Equivalent Residential Units ERUs) industrial water users. The majority of these customers are using water for cooling and typically have a separate sewer meter.  

The volume of water used by industrial customers varies significantly from month to month and is usually seasonal.  The annual average daily usage per ERU for industrial customers is lower than residential and commercial customers; however, the maximum daily water demand is much higher than that of residential and commercial customers. This is important because Prince William Water purchases water capacity and designs its water system based on daily demand. 

Because this customer group has different usage patterns and impacts on the system, Prince William Water created an industrial customer class. Since Prince William Water purchases water capacity and designs its water system based on maximum daily demand, Prince William Water is also basing ERU calculations on maximum daily demand for industrial customers.

Prince William Water sets availability fees to recover the cost of expanding water and sewer systems required to serve new customers, together with the cost of development administration.  

The availability fees for the next three calendar years are:  

Data center developers and operators use different cooling technology – water cooled or air cooled – based on several proprietary factors. The decision about which cooling technology is used is owner-determined and project-specific. 

The drinking water provided by Prince William Water to serve new development in the western service area comes from public sources in the Potomac River and Lake Manassas, not from groundwater wells. Hence, public water supply does not affect ground water supply for private wells. 

Data centers do not decrease water supply availability to Prince William County. Prince William Water’s system has eastern and western components, with drinking water supplied primarily by Fairfax Water. See graphic below.

• Western Prince William County: Data centers are primarily located in the western areas of Prince William County. Western Prince William County drinking water is supplied by Fairfax Water’s Corbalis Water Treatment Plant, which draws from the Potomac River. Once used by data centers in western Prince William County, the wastewater is treated at the Upper Occoquan Service Authority Water Reclamation Plant and released as reclaimed water to the Occoquan Reservoir. In this water cycle, water used from the Potomac is reclaimed and released into the Occoquan Reservoir, adding volume.

   

• Eastern Prince William County: Drinking water for the east system is supplied by Fairfax Water’s Griffith Water Treatment Plant, which draws water from the Occoquan Reservoir. The eastern system does not supply data centers or other developments in western Prince William County and as a result development in western Prince William County effectively increases the water supply available to meet eastern Prince William County water demands.

As part of the Master Plan Addendum, Prince William Water explored the feasibility of a water re-use program for the Digital Gateway. While the study did not indicate that water re-use is viable for the Digital Gateway, this does not preclude considering water re-use for other projects.

No, Prince William Water has a strong and efficient planning process to monitor water capacity, use and timing of future demand to plan for purchasing additional water capacity. Prince William Water’s planning aligns with the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan and relevant land use policies. Additional purchased capacity must be timed in coordination with required infrastructure improvements for both Prince William Water and Fairfax Water, since purchasing additional capacity and delivering more drinking water may require infrastructure improvements.

Yes. Prince William Water can support development activity as envisioned in the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan, including the latest Comprehensive Plan update which included the Digital Gateway, with capacity currently owned by Prince William Water supplemented with the purchase of additional capacity when needed from Fairfax Water.  

As specific land use applications are submitted with the related water requirements, Prince William Water will continuously monitor and assess the availability of existing water supply and, if necessary, the required timing to purchase additional capacity from Fairfax Water. Any additional capacity from Fairfax Water would be withdrawn from the Potomac River. 

Prince William Water continually plans for water and sewer infrastructure improvements that are needed to support development activity. 

In December 2022, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved a revised Comprehensive Plan that removed public sewer restrictions in the Rural Area. Prince William Water conducted a Master Plan Addendum, which indicated that demands required by the updated Comprehensive Plan, including the Digital Gateway, may require additional water supply capacity to be purchased in the future. As noted, Prince William Water has the ability to purchase additional capacity from Fairfax Water when needed.  

However, the absence of water and sewer infrastructure in any given part of Prince William County is not an impediment to development under Prince William Water’s “growth pays for growth” policy, which requires that infrastructure extensions be designed, constructed and paid for by development applicants to serve their development.  

FOG stands for Fats, Oils and Grease, all of which can severely damage your sanitary sewer system. FOG includes animal and vegetable fats, as well as oils used to cook and prepare food. When poured down the drain, FOG can cause problems in sanitary sewer pipes and sewer laterals. Grease buildup in pipes can cause major damage to pipes and lead to sewage back-ups in your business

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a United States federal law that requires the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased or uncirculated information and documents controlled by the U.S. government upon request. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens “in the know” about their government.

You can submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by filling out the FOIA Request Form and submitting it foia_requests@pwwater.org. 

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• Fairfax Water

• Cook with stainless steel, cast-iron, glass, or ceramics. Try not to use nonstick cookware.
• Look for coats, hats, and boots labeled “water-resistant.” They are less likely to have PFAS than waterproof products.
• Avoid ordering food in grease-resistant wrappers or containers.
• Avoid carpets and upholstery treated to be stain or water-resistant; decline stain treatment.
• Ask manufacturers if their products have PFAS. These chemicals are often not listed. However, given that many PFAS cannot be measured yet, products cannot be confirmed “PFAS-free.”
• Filters that are currently available and can be effective at reducing PFAS are Charcoal (Granular Activated Carbon or GAC), Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems, and Ion Exchange Resins. 

If you are concerned about potential health effects from exposure to these PFAS above the health advisory level, EPA encourages you to contact your doctor or health care professional.

PFAS typically enters drinking water sources (lakes, rivers, wells, etc.) through storm water runoff and wastewater originating from facilities where PFAS chemicals were produced or used.

PFAS are slow to break down and using products with PFAS puts these chemicals into the environment, where, over time, they may end up in drinking water supplies. PFAS can also enter the environment as consumers wash and throw away products containing these chemicals and through bodily waste.

Prince William Water purchases treated drinking water from Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas to meet the needs of Prince William Water customers in Prince William County. Prince William Water remains fully confident in their ability to provide safe and reliable drinking water that meets regulatory treatment and distribution requirements. Click here for more information from Fairfax Water. 

Like our regional and national water utility colleagues, Prince William Water supports the EPA’s efforts to limit exposure to PFAS compounds, which enter the environment through industrial and household uses.

Prince William Water has been collecting and testing samples from our water distribution system for PFAS compounds since 2021. We will continue this sampling and reporting process and are working with regulatory agencies and our wholesale water providers to ensure that we maintain the safety and high quality of our drinking water into the future. 

EPA

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced final national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The standard also establishes a hazard index (HI) for a mixture of two or more of the following: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).

On March 14, 2023, the EPA announced its proposed national drinking water standards for 6 types of Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The proposed standard also includes establishing a hazard index for a combination of four other PFAS compounds. For more information about the proposed standards, please visit https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

In June 2022, EPA released interim health advisory levels of 4.0 ppt for PFOA and 4.0 ppt for PFOS. Additionally, final health advisories were released of 2,000 ppt for PFBS and 10 ppt for GenX chemicals.

In February 2021, the EPA issued a final determination to regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. The agency also proposed to require water utilities monitor for 29 PFAS compounds in drinking water. In April 2021, the agency announced the establishment of the EPA Council on PFAS to develop a national strategy to protect public health and make recommendations regarding PFAS.

In December 2021, EPA published the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). UCMR 5 requires sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants between 2023 and 2025, using analytical methods developed by EPA and consensus organizations. Twenty-nine PFAS chemicals will be included in this study.

VDH

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed two bills (HB 586 and HB 1257) that directed the VDH’s Office of Drinking Water (ODW) to study the occurrence, health effects and treatability of PFAS compounds in public drinking water and to adopt maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for some PFAS compounds.

Updated December 2024

Every five years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews and selects a list of unregulated contaminants for public water systems to monitor. This study benefits the environment and public health by providing valid data on the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water. The EPA uses this data to develop regulatory decisions for emerging contaminants. This requirement is mandatory for all public water systems that serve more than 10,000 customers.

UCMR5 requires testing for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium. This list includes the PFAS chemicals that EPA is proposing new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs): PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants, as well as PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS and HFPO-DA (commonly referred to as GenX Chemicals) as a PFAS mixture.  

In 2024, Prince William Water collected quarterly samples for the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) in its East and West water distribution systems. Results indicated that Prince William Water's East system were slightly above the EPA's proposed Maximum Contaminant Level for both PFOA and PFOS. PFOA and PFOS were not present in the sampling performed for Prince William Water's west system.

Prince William Water will work with regulatory agencies and our wholesale water providers to ensure that we maintain the safety and high quality of our drinking water. Water systems have until 2029 to comply with the EPA’s stringent new PFAS limits.

Yes. On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced final national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The standard also establishes a hazard index (HI) for a mixture of two or more of the following: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).

According to the EPA, public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs. Fairfax Water will ensure that our water meets these standards..

Water utilities are passive receivers of PFAS compounds, which are used in firefighting foam, industrial processes, and consumer products. Most humans are exposed to PFAS through food and consumer products while drinking water makes up a small portion of their total exposure. Peer-reviewed studies show that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.

Due to decades of use, PFAS are everywhere in the environment. Industrial sites might release PFAS into the water or air. Consumer and household products containing PFAS enter landfills and are washed down the drain. Because of their chemical composition, PFAS do not break down naturally and can be found throughout the environment in surface water, groundwater, air, and soil. They build up in the environment over time, eventually entering our bodies through food and drinking water.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 manmade chemicals used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household products designed to resist heat, water, oil and stains. A wide variety of products are made with PFAS, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, personal care products and water-resistant apparel.

Four PFAS of note include perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HPFO-DA or GenX). In June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new lifetime health advisories for the four compounds.

Although their use has been phased out in the United States, the fact that these chemicals are very stable means that they tend to hang around in the environment for a long time. There is national concern about these chemicals entering our surface and groundwater drinking water sources.

Prince William Water’s average monthly bill is considered affordable or low burden using several affordability metrics.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends multiple affordability measures and guidelines for water and sewer service. The guidance originally developed by the EPA in relation to median household income states that customers’ bills under 4.0% of median household income are considered affordable.   

To expand upon the view of affordability for households with lower incomes, several additional metrics have been developed over the years, including Lowest Quintile Residential Indicator and the Hours Worked metrics.  

• The Lowest Quintile Residential Indicator approach evaluates a customer bill at the lowest quintile of income instead of median income, with a threshold of under 4% considered affordable.  
• The Hours Worked approach evaluates the number of hours worked at the prevailing minimum wage to pay the typical residential water and sewer bill, with the threshold of under 8 hours worked deemed affordable.  

Based on Prince William Water’s typical household consumption of 5,000 gallons per month, Prince William Water’s proposed monthly water and sewer bills for fiscal years 2025 through 2027 are less than 1% of median household income, under 2% for Lowest Quintile Residential Indicator and under 7.5 Hours Worked. 

The rates that take effect in 2025, 2026 and 2027 continue to reflect Prince William Water’s average monthly bill as affordable and continue to place Prince William Water’s average bill among the lowest in the region. 

Each water and sewer utility sets its rates based on its own priorities, operating environment, and capital needs.  Decisions about the timing of maintenance and infrastructure replacement are based on the utility’s unique system needs, customer requirements, regulatory requirements, and available resources.  

Prince William Water is careful to ensure its rates are competitive with surrounding jurisdictions while making the investments necessary to provide clean and safe drinking water to its customers and protecting the environment. Through these efforts, Prince William Water’s rates remain among the lowest in the region.

Prince William Water deferred rate adjustments during the Coronavirus 19 Pandemic. Further deferring necessary rate adjustments could require Prince William Water to postpone necessary infrastructure replacement projects. Additionally, keeping rates artificially low results in higher rate increases in the future when Prince William Water would be required to catch up with deferred infrastructure replacements.  

Setting rates three years at a time minimizes rate shock to customers and allows for strategic financial decision making.  

No, Prince William Water does not receive any tax dollars from Prince William County Government. Prince William Water is funded solely by User Rates and Fees and Developer Rates and Fees.  

Prince William Water sets its rates based on a cost-of-service model.  An independent financial consultant, Stantec Consultants, Inc., conducted a rate study for Prince William Water and recommended an adjustment to the rates. Prince William Water’s Board of Directors has approved new rates and fees effective January 1, 2025.  For more information on how we set rates, visit our 'Water Rates Information' page.

Prince William Water’s goal is to set fair and equitable rates and fees while providing clean, safe drinking water to its customers and protecting the environment. A key element of providing clean drinking water and protecting the environment is ensuring that Prince William Water’s infrastructure is maintained and in good working condition.  This requires a significant capital investment every year. The most recent factors impacting rate increases are capital replacement needs; the rising cost of construction; and increases in purchased water, purchased water reclamation services and other operating costs.  

Prince William Water purchases most of its drinking water from advanced water treatment plants owned and operated by Fairfax Water. Wholesale water rates charged by Fairfax Water have increased significantly over the past few years.  

Wastewater in western areas of Prince William County is treated at the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA) Water Reclamation Plant, and wastewater in the eastern areas of Prince William County is treated at the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility. Both facilities are among the most advanced water reclamation facilities in the country. Recently, wastewater treatment costs at both treatment plants have also increased considerably. 

In addition, Prince William Water sets rates so that we can properly maintain our infrastructure, meet or exceed environmental regulations, and continue delivering the quality and reliability our customers expect from us.

Home treatment units may improve flavor or odor, but they do not boost safety. Lack of maintenance might cause bacteria to proliferate in the treatment system and taint the water. Before buying a home water treatment device, read the product information. Follow manufacturer directions for operation and maintenance and change the filter regularly. Certified home treatment devices should have an NSF mark. Visit the EPA's website for more information. 
 

Bottled water isn't always safer than tap. The EPA imposes stronger requirements for our treated drinking water than the Food and Drug Administration does for bottled water. When buying bottled water, consumers should study the label to understand the taste and treatment technique. The International Bottled Water Association has bottled water information. 

People may prefer bottled water since it lacks chlorine and has no chlorine taste. However, bottled water can lie on store shelves for a long period before being sold. You can filter tap water if it accommodates your taste preferences. 
 

Black specks in tap water are often caused by rubber plumbing fittings degrading in contact with tap water chlorine and chloramines. Degraded gaskets and o-rings can gather in toilet tanks and faucets.  

Specks that can be smudged between fingertips indicate degrading rubber. Silicate or manganese is likely if it does not smear between your fingertips. Our Customer Service Department can clean your home's water distribution mains to clear silt or manganese. After flushing the mains, flush your residential lines.  

New or restored structures can have particle issues. Plumbers sometimes disrupt plumbing systems. Flushing new systems can help. 

If your garments or towels smell after laundering, check the washing machine. Wet laundry will show odors from the washing machine. After drying, the laundry smells much better but returns when damp. Washing machine scents can come from two sources:

1. Clothes may smell “sour” after prolonged wetness.  
2. Lint, filth and moisture from the washing machine can cause odor transfer to garments. To reduce odor, consult the owner's manual.  

Water appears colorless in small amounts, but it turns bluer as the sample size increases due to its interaction with light and other basic properties.

Odors like rotten eggs or sulfur suggest bacteria in your drain or water heater. Use bleach to clear the drain. Let the cold water run. Bring a cup of cold water from the sink where you noticed the odor to another room to smell it. If the smell persists, check the water heater. Most manufacturers recommend annual water heater cleansing. Consult your manufacturer's instructions.

Older plumbing might have a metallic aftertaste due to copper and iron corrosion.  
Hot water, poor plumbing, or stagnant water conditions (as when a house is closed for lengthy periods of time) can accelerate plumbing corrosion. Metallic tastes can also emerge when new plumbing or fixtures and metallic materials have not settled. 
 
Prince William Water's suppliers, Fairfax Water and City of Manassas, add a corrosion inhibitor to prevent metals from seeping into drinking water. Run cold water for a few minutes to freshen your home plumbing if your water tastes metallic.

After a hot, dry summer, tap water may smell earthy/musty in the fall. All surface waterways have algae, but summertime algae are numerous. Algae die off and emit two harmless chemicals that smell earthy or musty as water temperatures drop. We can smell tiny amounts of these chemicals.

Prince William Water consistently tests and monitors the water to make sure that it meets or exceeds EPA’s safe drinking water standards. Tap water that meets EPA standards is typically safe. We take pride in maintaining high water quality throughout our distribution system.  

Between April and June, a slight change is made in the water treatment process to facilitate an effective flushing program and maintain water quality. During most of the year, chloramine (ammonia and chlorine) is added to drinking water as the primary disinfectant. In spring, our drinking water providers switch to free chlorine. This temporary change in the water treatment process helps prevent bacteria from becoming overly resistant.  

You may notice a chlorine taste and odor in your drinking water while free chlorine is utilized. If you are especially sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine, try keeping an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator. This will enable the chlorine to dissipate, thus reducing chlorine taste and odor. 
 

The pink/orange toilet stains are likely Serratia marcescens bacteria. These bacteria are most common in toilet bowls, shower stalls, dishwashers, tiles, sinks and pet water dishes.

Any damp place with phosphorus or fat will develop the bacterium. Serratia can grow in toilets where water stands long enough to evaporate chlorine residual disinfection. Chlorinated water kills Serratia and bleach removes microorganisms from toilets. 

Prince William Water's state-certified Water Quality Laboratory performs or administers state and federal testing to ensure that our water meets or exceeds regulatory standards. In addition to regulated testing, several other analyses check distribution system water quality. 

If chlorine is not removed before using in your aquarium, Prince William Water tap water can harm fish. Prince William Water flushes with free chlorine from April to June and utilizes chloramines, a chlorine-ammonia mixture, the rest of the year. Ask your pet retailer about chlorine and chloramine removal.

Mineral residue on items is from water's natural mineral content, such as calcium.

White particles in ice cubes are harmless minerals.

Hot water from a heater may include substances that should not be consumed. These impurities may include domestic plumbing metals concentrated after heating. Hot water has more contaminants because it absorbs household plumbing materials faster than cold water. 

Tap water can safely be stored for up to six months if stored properly, and the United States Department of Agriculture recommends replacing stored water every six months. Water should be stored away from sunlight, in cool temperatures and away from toxic substances. Visit our 'Prepare for Water Emergencies' page for more information about storing water.

This might happen when the water entering the house is colder than the inside temperature. Cold water contains more oxygen than warm water, so when cold water from the water mains outside warms up in our warm houses, the oxygen must escape. Milky water is caused by air bubbles rising to escape the water.

Both federal and state agencies regulate drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) revised in 1986 and 1996. For more information on drinking water rules and regulations, please visit our Regulatory Affairs page. 

These whitish specks are possibly hot water heater dip tube pieces. Many 1980s hot water heaters had a defective dip tube that disintegrates with time. The dip tube transports cold water from the hot water heater's top to the bottom for heating. Over time, the dip tube breaks down and white particles enter domestic pipes. If large enough, particles become stuck in sink faucet or showerhead strainers. If they're from the dip tube, these particles won't be in the toilet bowls, tanks, or automatic ice maker because they only affect hot water. Call your hot water heater manufacturer for help with this issue.

Dialysis machines require further treatment of tap water to remove specific substances like aluminum, fluoride and chloramines. Please consult with your healthcare provider for more information. 

Drinking from garden hoses can introduce harmful substances so we do not recommend drinking from your garden hose. Food grade hoses are safer.

Prince William Water is aware of the September 2024 U.S. District Court ruling from California regarding fluoride in drinking water. Prince William Water purchases our drinking water wholesale from Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas, both of which are awaiting guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Health on this matter.

Currently, both Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas add fluoride to drinking water at or near 0.7 parts per million (ppm), following federal and state public health agency standards, including the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Fluoride is added to drinking water to serve a public health goal to decrease the occurrence and severity of tooth decay and reduce the risk of dental fluorosis.  VDH, CDC and Fairfax Water have additional information and data on fluoridation on their websites at the following:

• Virginia Department of Health
• Fairfax Water
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

General guidelines for classification of waters are as follows: 0 to 17 mg/L as calcium carbonate is classified as soft; 17.1-60 mg/L as slightly hard; 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard; 121 to 180 mg/L as hard; and more than 180 mg/L as very hard.  

Our water is moderately hard in the East and West Systems and hard in Bull Run Mountain/Evergreen. For more information, visit our 'Water Hardness Information' page. 

Customers living in Prince William County receive drinking water from different sources based on their location.

Households in eastern and central Prince William County, such as in Dumfries, Occoquan, Carter’s Grove, Woodbridge, Triangle and Hoadly Road, receive water sourced from the Occoquan Reservoir and treated at Fairfax Water’s Frederick P. Griffith Water Treatment Plant.

Customers in western Prince William County, Greater Manassas and Manassas South receive water that is a blend of water sourced from the Potomac River and treated at Fairfax Water’s James J. Corbalis, Jr. Water Treatment Plant along with water from Lake Manassas treated at City of Manassas’ water treatment plant.

A small cluster of customers in the Bull Run Mountain/Evergreen neighborhoods receive their water from six wells treated with sodium hydroxide to prevent plumbing corrosion. 

Prince William Water annually assesses water needs against the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan, ensuring supply meets demand through the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (MWCOG) planning timeline (currently 2045). Prince William Water closely monitors new demand requirements and regularly discusses demands and timing with project applicants. Prince William Water staff reviews various development scenarios and requirements to assess the timing of necessary water supply capacity increases and any required infrastructure improvements. 

No, customers must take precautions to remove or neutralize chloramines and free chlorine in water used in fish tanks and ponds.

To prevent algae and bacterial growth in pools, it is important that pool owners maintain the same chlorine level in water treated with free chlorine or chloramines. Pool supply stores can provide more information and guidance about chlorinating pools.

Water must be treated to remove free chlorine and chloramines before use in dialysis. We notify all centers in our service area about the conversion to free chlorine each year before switching the disinfectant from chloramines. 

Dialysis patients can safely drink water treated with either free chlorine or chloramines.

Rubber components and materials, which can deteriorate over time, are sometimes used in older home plumbing systems and water heaters. When replacing rubber plumbing components, ask for chloramine-resistant parts, which you can get from your plumber or at hardware stores. Follow manufacturers' recommended use for chloramine-resistant parts.

Most customers will not see a drop in water pressure. If a change in pressure does occur, it usually lasts for only 30 minutes or less.

Sometimes, the flushing process causes short-term cloudiness in water mains by stirring minerals and sediments. Please run cold water from your tap until the cloudiness goes away if you have this problem.

Please email customerservice@pwwater.org or call (703) 335-7950 to reach Prince William Water's customer service department if your water seems cloudy for an extended period of time.

To remove chlorine smell and taste from tap water, fill a pitcher with water and leave it uncovered on your counter or in your refrigerator. Within a couple of hours, the chlorine will dissipate. 

The use of free chlorine may result in a slight chlorine odor in your tap water. Each individual customer has his or her own sensitivity level to the taste and/or odor of free chlorine, though many detect no change at all.

Prince William Water will flush the distribution system from approximately late March-May 2024.

Every spring, the City of Manassas and Fairfax Water, the drinking water suppliers to Prince William Water, temporarily switch from using chloramines as the main disinfectant in their water treatment process to free chlorine. According to our water suppliers, this short-term change is a best practice for the drinking water industry and makes it easier to implement a flushing program for the distribution system.

Free chlorine is also used to disinfect drinking water, but it is a stronger disinfectant than chloramines.

Chloramines are a disinfectant used in drinking water to remove bacteria and viruses. 

Prince William Water flushes water from fire hydrants connected to its distribution system each spring in order to forcefully draw water through its network of pipes. This process dislodges sediments and minerals that may have collected in water mains since the prior year’s system flush.

If your monthly bill has a noticeable increase in consumption for which you can’t account for, you should:

• Check your premises for leaks. Remember that you as the customer are responsible for all water passing through the water meter, so repairing leaks on your side of the meter will save you from paying for water you may not be using. A common internal leak that can lead to a higher-than normal bill is a leaking toilet.  To detect if a toilet is leaking, you can add a few drops of food coloring or dye tablets to the tank behind the commode. Let it sit for 3 hours. If you see colored water in the commode or the water in the tank is now clear, this is an indication that you have a toilet leak.  
• Check all faucets, showers, outdoor spigots, and irrigation heads for possible leaks.  
• If you are unable to locate the cause of increased water usage, please call one of our Customer Service Representatives who will arrange for a service technician to visit your property and assist you in identifying potential causes. You can call Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at (703) 335-7950. 

An Authorized User previously established on the account can request a loved one’s account to be closed. If an Authorized User is not listed on the account, we require appropriate documentation that the person making the request is Authorized to act (typically a death certificate and Will or Executor-related documents). 

We maintain a limited number of existing grinder pumps by individual contract. If your residence contains a Prince William Water grinder pump, you will notice a service fee included on your monthly bill.  

If you are having any issues with the device, call (703) 335-7990 to request assistance.

The Property Owner is responsible for any repairs or replacements of Sump Pumps. 

We can assist the Property Owner with investigating an issue with a sump pump that was installed by Prince William Water. For more information please see the Customer Handbook.

A sewer cleanout is a pipe with a cap (generally located near a customer’s property line) that provides access to a sewer line so that blockages can be inspected and removed. 

If your cleanout is missing a cap, call (703) 335-7990 and we will replace it as a courtesy service.

To report an issue with a manhole, including tampering, please call (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To report an issue outside normal business hours, please call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990. 

Thanks for your help in maintaining our infrastructure!

Some employees take marked Prince William Water vehicles home so that they can respond quickly to water and sewer emergencies. Be assured these vehicles are used only for official purposes to protect the health and safety of our community and the environment.

Some Prince William Water employees are considered essential personnel, including employees who are on-call for weekends and evenings. On-call employees take marked Prince William Water vehicles home so that they may respond more quickly to water and sewer emergencies. 

Our Water Quality Report provides up-to-date information about the quality of your water.

For more information, please contact Prince William Water’s Regulatory Affairs Office at (703) 331-4162 or email water_quality@pwwater.org. 
 

Please call Miss Utility at 811 or visit https://va811.com/ at least 72 hours before digging. 

Yes, Prince William Water staff can visit your property to check your meter for leaks. 

If you think your meter has a leak, contact Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule a visit.

No. However, please make sure that the main valve and all water fixtures are in the off position before your water is turned on. 

Yes, we can check your water pressure. You can call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990 after hours to arrange for a service technician to visit your home. 

Please do not turn a meter back on. Meters are Prince William Water property, and tampering with them is prohibited. 

When the water is turned on, a Prince William Water technician must get an accurate meter reading to establish the baseline for future billing.

Call Miss Utility of Virginia at 811 or visit https://va811.com/ before you dig or excavate. They will dispatch Prince William Water to locate lines and connections from the water or sewer main through the water meter box.  

Lines and connections on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.  

Please call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside of business hours, call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990.

Here are a few recommendations if your water is off: 

1. First, check to make sure your bill has been paid. 
2. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
3. Outside of business hours, call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990. 

The Virginia Code requires that property owners are notified when tenants begin water service at their property.  The Code also requires that the owner give written permission for tenants to have water service at their property, and an Owner Authorization Form meets this requirement.

Do one of the following 2 business days before your move:

1. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950
2. Log in to your account, click on Requests/Updates, then click on Stop Service/Move Out. 
3. Visit our business office located at 4 County Complex Court in Woodbridge, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Do one of the following 2 business days before your move:

1. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950
2. Log in to your account, click on Requests/Updates, then click on Transfer Service 
3. Visit our business office located at 4 County Complex Court in Woodbridge, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

1. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.pwwater.org click on Start or Stop Service  
2. Visit our business office at 4 County Complex Court in Woodbridge, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While we cannot guarantee a restoration time, our goal is to have all service restorations completed the same day by 10 p.m. Certain factors like the number of restorations, timing of requests and field emergencies can affect restoration timing.

Our electronic bill pay vendor uses Industry Standard Security Protocols to protect your information. You will also see a security icon in your web browser. You can click on the lock icon in the browser and select "View Certificate" or "Certificate Information" to see the security certificate. 

Residents in the Yorkshire Service Area receive trash collection from Prince William Water through a contractor and pay a Refuse Collection Charge to cover the cost of service.

There is no charge for a temporary disconnection. However, normal monthly service charges will continue to be billed to your account and should be paid by the due date.

All new accounts, or existing accounts transferring service to another location, are charged an Application Fee. This fee helps us recover administrative costs associated with establishing or transferring an account. The Application Fee appears on the first month's bill.

No, technicians are not equipped to accept payment. For a full list of payment options, visit our 'Payment Options' page. 

To make recurring or scheduled payments, you will need to register your account online. Scheduled payments issued by electronic check are free. A $2.75 convenience fee is applied to credit or debit card payments.  

There are multiple options for payment locations. Visit our 'Payment Options' page to find out more. 

There are multiple options for making a bill payment. Visit our 'Payment Options' page to find out more. 

Rates and fees are based on the actual cost of the service provided. Because of this, Prince William Water cannot absorb the cost of transaction charges. Prince William Water receives no payment for the vendor's non-refundable administrative fee.

Yes, Prince William Water accepts partial payments. Payments are applied to the oldest charges first. To avoid collection or possible service disruption, please ensure that your bill is paid in full within 30 days.

No, we currently do not offer budget billing.

If you didn't receive a bill, please do one of the following: 

1. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
2. Email your request to CustomerService@pwwater.org. 

Inclement weather or other situations can make it difficult to read a meter. In these cases, we will estimate your bill based on previous consumption history. When the next meter reading occurs, you may receive a higher or lower bill to balance total consumption during the two billing cycles.

Monthly bills include fixed service charges based on your meter size and consumption charges based on your monthly usage. Bills also include trash service for customers in the Yorkshire area who receive trash services through an independent contractor. 

Meters are read and billed every month, and bills are due within 24 days of the bill date. 

1. Check your premises for leaks or running toilets.  
2. If you can't find the cause of increased water usage, call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950. Our representatives can arrange for a technician to visit your property and help identify potential causes.

1. Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950. Be sure to have your account number on hand.
2. You can login to your online account or create an online account here to view your balance. (Link to Create an Account).

There is a, non-refundable Application Fee for new service requests that will appear on the first month's bill. In addition, tenants must pay an Advance Payment Deposit that is included on the first bill. All Fees are outlined in the Customer Handbook.

You may be eligible for a courtesy adjustment on your account. Information on leaks and leak adjustments is available in the Customer Handbook.

Contact Customer Service at (703) 335-7950 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or customerservice@pwwater.org, to discuss an extension. Please allow 2 business days for email inquiries. 

Bills are due within 24 days of the bill date. Late payments are assessed a 10% charge.

Fairfax Water supplies potable water from the Occoquan Reservoir, meeting all regulatory standards for East Prince William County. Prince William Water remains confident in Fairfax Water's quality. Stormwater management and land use decisions rest with Prince William County, supported by regional collaboration to maintain water quality.

No, existing customers do not subsidize new customers and growth. Additionally, Prince William Water does not receive Prince William County tax dollars. Prince William Water policy requires that “growth pays for growth,” meaning that developers pay the cost for new water and wastewater capacity and the infrastructure needed to support new development. This is detailed in the Prince William Water Service Connection Policy and the Development Review Process and System Improvement Policy.  
 

You can view up to 24 months of your payment history and account transactions online. 

You can view your current bill by logging on to your account at www.princewilliamwater.org. You may also call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Our payment vendor, Invoice Cloud, keeps your information safe by storing it using Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant systems. Your information is not shared with any other parties. In addition, account information displayed in the Invoice Cloud portal is shortened to protect confidential data. 

• To change your account information, please log in to your account.  
• You can change any of your personal information under the "My Profile" tab. 
• You can also contact Customer Service at 703-335-7950 or CustomerService@pwwater.org 

Yes! You may use one payment method for part of the transaction and another payment method for other parts of the transaction. 

A convenience fee of $2.75 is applied when you use a credit or debit card to make your payment. This processing fee is charged and collected by Invoice Cloud, our payment vendor. 

Recurring payments are scheduled by you on a specified date. You can: 

• Pay a fixed payment amount on a selected day.  
• Pay a fixed payment amount on the invoice due date. 
• Pay in full on the selected day. 
• Pay in full on the invoice due date.  

Prince William Water is discontinuing Automatic Bank Drafting to offer more flexible payment options.  Invoice Cloud provides various recurring payment options. Payments issued by electronic check are free. A$2.75 fee is applied to credit or debit card payments.  

We offer many options for paying your bills. You can pay by debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). You can also issue an electronic check from your checking or savings account. 

No, you will need to provide a valid email address to complete the online payment process so that the system can send your payment confirmation. 

1. Visit www.princewilliamwater.org, click on Account Login/Pay Bill  
2. Choose Sign Up Now  
3. Enter your information to verify your account, create username, password and security question.
4. Once you have registered, you will only need your username and password to log in. 

Registration is not required for a one-time payment option. Just enter your payment information each time you pay your bill. By registering, you can access your payment history, receive notifications and avoid entering your information each time.  

Invoice Cloud is our third-party electronic bill presentment and payment provider. Your data is not sold or released for any purpose other than to complete Prince William Water transactions. 

Invoice Cloud is a web-based, electronic invoice payment company. We have partnered with Invoice Cloud to provide convenient, online payment services. Through Invoice Cloud, you can choose to receive your bill electronically and pay online, which helps the environment and reduces clutter.  

To protect public health, the EPA creates national regulations. These drinking water standards are enforced by VDH in Virginia. Prince William Water sends VDH its water quality test findings monthly and annually to ensure the utility fulfills federal and state drinking water regulations. If a water quality violation occurs, Prince William Water must notify VDH and its customers immediately and work with VDH to correct it.

Fairfax Water, which supplies most Prince William Water drinking water, disinfects with ozone and chloramines. Some of our western Prince William clients get drinking water from Manassas, which disinfects using chloramines. In spring, Prince William Water's water providers clean drinking water with free chlorine, a stronger disinfectant, to prevent bacteria from developing resistances.

Free chlorine and chloramines react with organic materials like decaying plant material in water to generate disinfection byproducts (DBPs). EPA and VDH regulate DBPs, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).  

TTHM and HAA5 sample results in Prince William Water's distribution system are regularly below the EPA standard, which Virginia Department of Health enforces.  

Certain cancers have been linked to chronic DBP exposure. The World Health Organization estimates that aquatic microorganisms pose 10,000 to 1 million times the risk of cancer from DBPs. Chloramines produce less DBPs than free chlorine because their chemical nature makes them less reactive to organic materials.  

Yes. 

Development density is strictly regulated by the Prince William County Planning Commission and Board of County Supervisors through rezoning based on the Comprehensive Plan. Prince William Water assesses new developments for utility service availability within these guidelines.

Prince William County regulations do not mandate semi-rural residential or rural properties within 2,500 feet of public water or 1,000 feet of sewer to connect to a proposed water or sewer line. New developments in these zones may link to nearby utilities if allowed by the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan and Prince William County Code, subject to amendments by the Board of County Supervisors only.

In order to treat all customers fairly, property owners in unserved areas of Prince William County who want to connect to the system must pay the cost to extend distribution or collection lines from existing Prince William Water mains to their property as well as the applicable Availability Fees.

Data center water consumption depends on factors such as facility size, cooling type (water intensive or air cooled) and outdoor temperature. Prince William County had 34 data centers in 2023. Seasonal weather affects data center water use; facility water use is lower in winter and higher in summer. In 2023, data centers in Prince William County consumed approximately 1.4% of Prince William Water's average daily water demands and 6% of its maximum daily water demands.  

Commercial High Demand Charges apply year-round since commercial customers' excess use is not confined to residential peak season (May–October). 

Prince William Water's water system provides on-demand drinking water. As the County grows, Prince William Water builds its water system to serve more customers. New customers pay an Availability Fee at connection to cover system expansion costs.  
 
Commercial clients who use more water than their allocated capacity limit Prince William Water capacity for other customers. Prince William Water assesses Commercial High Demand Charges to recover the cost of adding water system capacity to lessen the impact of some commercial customers' high demands. 

Customers paying for water and sewer services pay for similar capacity because all water can enter the sewer system. A water-only account is recommended for non-sewer water use. Water-only accounts are connected to the water supply but not the sewer. Purchase capacity individually for a water-only account. Engineers from Prince William Water will gladly discuss this possibility with clients. Customers should contact Prince William Water's Engineering & Planning Division at 703-335-7930 for assistance.   

Due to business-specific characteristics, Prince William Water must rely on commercial consumers to predict their water use. Prince William Water will evaluate the customer's usage estimate and the desired meter's suitability.  

Using historical data, Prince William Water can estimate a customer's water use, but it cannot predict their actual use. Due to company demand, ownership or tenant changes, etc., a customer's estimated water use may differ from their actual use. Prince William Water may request extra Availability Fees at any time when water demand exceeds capacity purchased, regardless of property ownership. Customers can buy more capacity and raise their thresholds by recertifying with our Engineering Division at 703-335-7930. 

As erroneous estimations may result in higher Availability Fees or High Demand Charges, Prince William Water advises consumers to estimate their use as accurately as possible. Owners and tenants should understand Developer and User Fees to manage water and sewer accounts cost effectively. 

Commercial customers can use certified water capacity. Each user is assigned a number of Equivalent Residential Units (“ERU”), each of which provides 10,000 gallons of monthly consumption. High Demand Charges apply above that limit. Prince William Water may request extra Availability Fees at any time when water demand exceeds capacity purchased. 

 
For account questions, call our Utility Billing Supervisor at (703) 396-6495. 

Do not consume mixed beverages containing tap water during a boil water advisory. This includes soda dispensers connected to a water supply. Substitute mixed beverages with canned or bottled. Discontinue the use of drinking water fountains and other plumbing fixtures used to provide drinking water. 

Coffee and other hot drinks must reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before drinking. If not, use boiled and cooled water to prepare hot beverages.

No, discontinue the use of a dipper well for the duration of a boil water advisory.

Yes, however sanitizing solutions must be 50-200 parts per million chlorine and tested routinely with test strips.

Test dishwashers to verify that temperatures reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the surfaces of the internal contents of the appliance. To test the temperature, place a food thermometer into a glass and run the dishwasher. During the wash cycle take note of the temperature.

Discontinue the use of produce misters during a boil water advisory. 

No. Discard ice made from tap water. All ice, including bagged ice, must be from an approved source (e.g. purchased ice).

Tap water may be used to thaw food in a preparation sink, as long as the product is cooked afterward and reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, thaw food in a refrigerator instead of using tap water.

Use boiled and cooled water when washing food products that will not be cooked afterward or purchase pre-washed items.

If using tap water in your food product, the minimum internal temperature must reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit or boiled water must be used.

Use warm tap water and soap for handwashing. After hands are rinsed and dried, follow with a liquid hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer must be used as an additional step; it does not replace handwashing. 

In an emergency, boiling is the preferred method for making sure tap water is safe to drink. The following are acceptable alternatives if you cannot boil your tap water because of a power outage or loss of gas service:

• Use bottled water.
• Disinfect tap water with liquid household bleach. Bleach should be recently purchased, contain at least 5.25% hypochlorite, and contain no additions or fragrances. If water is clear, add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon. If water is murky, add 16 drops (or 1/4 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon. Stir bleach into water and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.
• Water purification tablets may also be used to disinfect tap water by following the manufacturer’s instructions. 

• You will be notified when tests show that the tap water is safe to drink.
• You may be asked to run water to flush the pipes in your home before using your tap water or be given other special instructions.
• Until you are notified, continue to boil all tap water for one minute before use.

See your family physician or healthcare provider. Your doctor may call the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water at (804) 864-7500 for information about the boil water notice.

Your doctor should notify the local health department if he or she suspects your illness was caused by microorganisms in the water.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants. People with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant patients, 
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants can be at greater risk from infections.

These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. 
Guidelines on ways to reduce the risk of infection from microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. 

You should boil the tap water and let it cool before you give to the animals in your care.

No. You should only use water from an approved, tested source. Without routinely testing the water there is no way to know if the water is safe to drink.

Yes. Bottled water can be used for all situations where boiled tap water is recommended. Be sure that the bottled water is from a reliable source.

Yes. Devices designed to improve the taste, odor, or chemical quality of the water, such as activated carbon filters, will not remove harmful microorganisms from the tap water. Boil the tap water to make sure it is safe.

No.

There is no need to boil water for bathing or showering. Adults, teens and older children can shower or bathe, though they should avoid getting water in the mouth or swallowing the water. 
Infants and toddlers should be sponge bathed. No special soaps are necessary. Care should be taken to prevent water from getting into deep open or post-surgical wounds. 
Consult your physician or health care provider for wound care instructions

No. It is not necessary to boil the tap water used for washing hands. Use warm tap water and soap for handwashing, and follow with a liquid hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer must be used as an additional step; it does not replace handwashing. 

Yes. Any tap water that might be swallowed should be boiled before use.

No. A spoonful of Clorox bleach in a sink full of tap water should treat dishwashing water. Rinsing water should also contain bleach. Air-dry dishes and utensils before using or use an electric dishwasher with its heating elements on to wash dishes. After washing in an electric dishwasher, rinse dishes in water with a spoonful of bleach and air-dry before reuse.

All tap water used in cooking must first be boiled for one minute unless the cooking process involves boiling for one minute or more.

Yes. Boil all tap water you use for washing raw vegetables.

Yes. Only use boiled tap water or bottled water for mixing formula for your baby. Make sure that the water is entirely cooled before giving it to your baby.

Yes. Boil all tap water you use for making coffee, tea, mixed drinks or any beverage made with water. In addition, boil all tap water used for making ice for consumption. 

Tap water can be boiled in the microwave in a microwave-safe container, provided that the water reaches a full rolling boil for one minute. Place a microwave-safe utensil in the container to keep the water from superheating (heating above the boiling point without forming steam or bubbles).

Bring tap water to a full rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using.

Boiling the water kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoans that can cause disease. Boiling makes the tap water microbiologically safe.

You may be asked to boil your tap water during an emergency:

• If tests show that harmful microorganisms could be present in the water,
• If the water pressure drops due to equipment failure or power outages,
• Because of water main breaks or repairs,
• If the water source has been flooded, or
• During other situations that warrant special action to protect consumers’ health. 

Information about lead is also available on the below websites. Additional information is available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791; TTY 711 Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. 

Certified laboratories that analyze for lead are available and can be found by clicking here or by calling 804-225-4949, TTY 711. 

• Any time the water has been sitting unused for six hours or longer, flush your cold-water pipes by running the water until it becomes a constant temperature. Saving the water for other purposes, such as plant watering, is a good conservation measure.
• Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking and especially for making baby formula. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead.
• Some people choose to install a water filter in their home. If you choose to do so, follow these three important suggestions:
  • Choose one designed for the specific filtration desired, such as lead.
  • Make sure the filter is approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (www.nsf.org).
  • Maintain the filter as directed by the manufacturer.

East and West Water Systems 

• The water distributed in the East and West Systems is purchased from Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas. Both water suppliers add a phosphate-based corrosion inhibitor and adjust the pH of the water to help prevent lead from leaching into your drinking water from household plumbing. 

Bull Run Mountain/Evergreen 

• Corrosion control for this public well system is limited to using sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. Once pH is adjusted, the water is no longer excessively corrosive, promoting pipe longevity while reducing the leaching of lead into the distribution system and home plumbing. 

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. For infants and children, exposure to high levels of lead in drinking water can result in delays in physical or mental development. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive a greater percentage because of the large volume of water they consume relative to their body size. For adults, exposure to high levels of lead can result in kidney problems or high blood pressure. Although the main sources of exposure to lead are ingesting paint chips and inhaling dust, the EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from drinking water.

The EPA action level of 10 parts per billion of lead in drinking water was established based on reasonable risk assessments. It is the level that requires additional corrective and educational actions but does not necessarily directly correlate to increased blood-lead levels. Blood-lead levels reflect a variety of factors, such as age; exposure to dusts, paint chips or soil containing lead; and the amount of water consumed daily. For women, pregnancy can also affect blood-lead levels. Nationally, the biggest source of increased blood-lead levels in children is the ingestion of lead-based paint chips. 

When lead testing is performed as required by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90 percent of the samples must contain less than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. EPA has established an action level for lead in water of 10 ppb, meaning that a water system with more than 10 ppb of lead in 10 percent of its samples may require changes to the water treatment process, replacement of lead service lines and public outreach. Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas, Prince William Water’s water suppliers, have been testing for lead in accordance with the Lead and Copper Rule since 1992 and have consistently tested below the action level established by the rule. 

Prince William Water's drinking water sources, including the Potomac River, Occoquan Reservoir, Lake Manassas, and the Bull Run/Evergreen Well System, do not contain any lead.

A source of lead in drinking water can be household plumbing. In 1986, lead was banned from use in pipes and solder for drinking water systems. In older homes, where lead is present in the service lines, plumbing fixtures and solder connections, it may leach into the water after the water sits for long periods of time.

The water Prince William Water purchases from Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas is treated with a corrosion inhibitor, which is added to help prevent lead from leaching from household plumbing into drinking water. 

All systems must make their lead service line inventories available to the public. In addition, all systems serving greater than 50,000 people must make their lead service line inventory publicly available. 

Once VDH approves the line inventory, Prince William Water will identify lead and copper sampling locations in areas that contain lead service lines. Also, 20 percent of the elementary schools and child care facilities in our service area will be sampled each year for the first five years. If the distribution system exceeds the 90th percentile for the EPA’s lead action level of 15 parts per billion, Prince William Water will be required to replace 3% of the lead service lines in the distribution system annually or until the system has two consecutive monitoring periods where all results are below the action level. 

Yes. The original Lead and Copper Rule required testing in Prince William Water’s distribution system as well as established action levels for both lead and copper when the rule was first published in 1991. 

All Prince William Water’s distribution systems have remained in compliance with the original Lead and Copper Rule since its inception. Additionally, Prince William Water partnered with Prince William County Schools and analyzed samples, for lead in school drinking water, under Virginia regulations that took effect in 2017. 

Prince William Water must conduct an inventory of all service lines on both Prince William Water’s side of the water meter and the property owner’s side of the meter. Prince William Water must submit the results to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) by October 16, 2024. The test results must classify all service lines in one of the following categories:

• Lead – where the service line is made of lead
• Non-Lead – where evidence indicates the service line is not made of lead
• Galvanized Requiring Replacement – where a galvanized service line is downstream of a current or former lead service line; or
• Lead Status Unknown – where there is no documentation or evidence to classify the material type 

The original Lead and Copper Rule set requirements for the frequency of lead and copper testing, volume requirements for water sampling, action and trigger levels for lead and copper, and necessary steps if those levels were met or exceeded.

The revised rule requires an inventory of all pipe materials from public water mains to privately owned structures, changes the volume of water required for a sample, enhances testing at schools and day care facilities, establishes public outreach requirements and defines lead service lines and replacement requirements. 

The revised rule is intended to minimize the risks of lead exposure in children and communities by better protecting children at schools and childcare facilities, safeguarding the nation’s drinking water and empowering communities through information. 

Most samples are analyzed and reported to our customers within 3 to 5 business days, however some test results may take longer.

Here are a few video tutorials.

• https://youtu.be/PcO5FCE9Vfw?si=pGXLB3Zy8sQJ_igb
• https://youtu.be/ZaDp92DJB9c?si=cWttVFIEPCaL6voO
• https://youtu.be/AiU7GHzD_Ck?si=y9mwV9H6PmIVx4EM

Many industrial and domestic water users are concerned about the hardness of their water. Hard water requires more soap and synthetic detergents for home laundry and washing, and contributes to scaling in boilers and industrial equipment. Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium and by a variety of other metals. Water is an excellent solvent and readily dissolves minerals it comes in contact with. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water "hard." 

The hardness of water is referred to by three types of measurements: grains per gallon, milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). The table below is provided as a reference.y compounds of calcium and magnesium and by a variety of other metals. Water is an excellent solvent and readily dissolves minerals it comes in contact with. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water "hard." 

The hardness of water is referred to by three types of measurements: grains per gallon, milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm). The table below is provided as a reference.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes standards for drinking water which fall into two categories — Primary Standards and Secondary Standards. Primary Standards are based on health considerations and Secondary Standards are based on aesthetics such as taste, odor, color or corrosivity. There is no Primary or Secondary standard for water hardness. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs (National Research Council, Drinking Water and Health, Volume 3, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1980) ​

Contact your loan officer, however, the buyer’s lending institution will most likely require that the well pass a water quality test prior to loan approval. Most lenders require testing for bacteria. Some may require nitrate testing.

Water service line pipes can consist of many different materials including lead, galvanized iron, brass, copper or plastic.  You can use the information below and/or watch the available video tutorial below to help you determine your water service line material and plumbing material. 

You should have your well tested once each year for total coliform, nitrates and pH levels.  If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well.  You should also have your well tested if:
 

• There are known problems with well water in your area.
• You have experienced problems near your well (flooding, land disturbances, and nearby waste disposal sites).
• You replace or repair any part of your well system.
• You notice a change in water quality (taste, color, odor). 

A sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) is an overflow of untreated or partially treated sewage from a sanitary sewer system. 

Most sewer systems experience occasional SSOs. Some SSO causes are:

• Inappropriate materials placed into sewers, such as fats, oils and grease (FOG) and some household products such as baby and facial wipes, sanitary pads and tampons. All of these can create blockages.
• Tree roots and/or excessive stormwater or groundwater entering sewer lines through defects or cracks.
• Inappropriate connections such as sump pumps, roof gutters and downspouts, foundation drains and area drains.
• Power loss.
• Equipment failures and breaks.
• Intentional acts of vandalism.
• Heavy rainfall and natural disasters. 

To prevent clogs and SSOs, never pour fats, oils, or grease (FOG) down drains. Dispose of them in sealed containers. Despite being labeled "flushable," wipes can cause clogs and should not be flushed. Ensure storm water connections are correct and report suspected issues. Keep sewer cleanout caps secured for line access. 

Unfortunately, overflows cannot be prevented entirely. The EPA indicates that “a few SSOs may be unavoidable. Unavoidable SSOs include those occurring from unpreventable vandalism, some types of blockages, extreme rainstorms, and acts of nature such as earthquakes or floods.” 

Prince William Water has invested in sewer improvements to prevent SSOs, including cleaning and maintaining the system:

• Rehabilitating and replacing broken or leaking lines to reduce storm water and groundwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer.  
• Upgrading or expanding sewer lines and pump stations.  
• Increasing sewage treatment capacity and improving plant dependability.  
• Removing fat, oil and grease (FOG) buildup from sewer systems.  
• Educating the public on how household goods like FOG and wipes can block sewer pipes. 

For reportable SSOs, Prince William Water posts on its website, Facebook and X. Signs in English and Spanish are placed at SSO sites, warning of potential illness for at least seven days. 

Any SSO that enters state waters or may reasonably be expected to enter state waters is reportable. Signage is placed at the site of the incident for seven days for reportable SSOs. Prince William Water also posts information about any active SSOs on our website and social media accounts. VDEQ maintains a Pollution Response Program (PREP) database, which is accessible to the public. This database shows all open SSO cases throughout the state, as well as a five-year period of record for closed SSO cases. 

SSOs discharge water and other contents from the sanitary sewage system. Avoid contact and report them to the Prince William Water Emergency Dispatch line at (703) 335-7990.

More information on the extent of environmental and human health impacts caused by SSOs can be found in the EPA report Impacts and Control of CSOs and SSOs. 

Water that has been sitting in lines can have air or sediment in it. We recommend running cold water from a tap on the highest floor of your home for five to 10 minutes. If the tap continues to sputter or the water remains cloudy, call our Emergency Dispatch Office at (703) 335-7990. 

Soil characteristics, age and condition of a pipe, and changes in water and ground temperatures can all contribute to water main breaks. Typically, these occur during the winter months. Occasionally, pipes can break if they are accidentally struck by heavy equipment.

Every water main break is different, and the amount of time required to fix them varies due to pipe material, pipe size, the type and cause of the break and how accessible the pipe is. 

Prince William Water crews work to fix a main break safely and as quickly as possible.

We respond quickly to repair the broken water main.  We notify customers if their service will be interrupted during repairs. Water main breaks beneath roadways require a temporary asphalt patch. A contractor will complete permanent paving, typically within 6 to 8 weeks. 

• To report a potential water main break during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950. 
• To report a break during weekends and evenings, call Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990. 
• Thanks for looking out for us!

Signs on or near a road include: Flowing or standing water in unusual places, sinkholes or potholes, or large, unexplained cracks in asphalt or pavement. 
Signs in your home include: Low or no water pressure, discolored or cloudy tap water, or gurgling or groaning sounds in your plumbing.