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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.  

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

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.  

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’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.

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.

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