Sewer

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.

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.  
 

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.