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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. 

Prince William Water will flush the distribution system from approximately late March-early May 2026.

Between March and May, 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. 
 

Data center water consumption depends on factors such as facility size, cooling type (water or air cooled) and outdoor temperature. Prince William County currently has about 55 data centers. Seasonal weather can affect water use by industrial customers, resulting in lower use during the winter and higher use in the summer. For calendar year 2025, data centers in Prince William County consumed approximately 3.8% of Prince William Water's average daily water demands and 10.1% of its maximum daily water demands.