Bill
How can I reduce my water bill?
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.
What is considered an affordable water and sewer bill?
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.
What are other local jurisdictions charging for water and sewer service?
In comparison with other local jurisdictions, Prince William Water’s rates in Fiscal Year 2025 remain competitive.
Local Jurisdiction | Estimated Monthly Bill* |
Fauquier County | 145.16 |
VA American / Dale Service | 119.55 |
City of Manassas Park | 103.98 |
Stafford County | 94.42 |
Virginia State Average | 93.73 |
City of Manassas | 92.66 |
Fairfax County | 85.03 |
Prince William Water (Proposed 1/1/2025) | 81.55 |
Falls Church | 78.80 |
Loudoun County | 70.25 |
* Rates are based on 5,000 gallons per month for a single-family residential home. |
Why is a trash fee added to my bill?
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.
Can I make a partial payment on my bill?
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.
Does Prince William Water have budget billing?
No, we currently do not offer budget billing.
What do I do if I did not receive a bill?
If you didn't receive a bill, please do one of the following:
- Call Customer Service at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Email your request to CustomerService@pwwater.org.
Why has my bill been estimated?
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.
What services do residential customers pay for on a monthly bill from Prince William Water?
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.
What should I do if I feel my bill is higher than normal?
- Check your premises for leaks or running toilets.
- 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.
If I have a leak on my side of the meter, can I get my bill adjusted?
You may be eligible for a courtesy adjustment on your account. Information on leaks and leak adjustments is available in the Customer Handbook.