Sewer Charges

Fairfax Water does not maintain the sewer system, but we do provide a sewer billing and collection service for the County of Fairfax. This allows most Fairfax County residents to pay for both water and sewer services on a combined statement.

Residential customers are billed for use of the sanitary sewer system at a rate of $6.55 per 1,000 gallons (rate effective July 1, 2012.) Sewer usage is based on water consumption during the current billing period or the preceding winter quarter billing period, whichever is lower. This prevents residential customers from being charged sewer rates on water used outdoors during the summer. A Sewer Base Charge became effective with the billing period beginning July 1, 2009. The fee of $5.50 is paid to Fairfax County to partially recover fixed expenses for billing, wastewater collection, engineering, planning, and administration. Call 703-324-5015, TTY 711 with questions on these charges.

Residential customers who use the County’s sanitary sewer system, but obtain water from a well, have another billing arrangement. These customers are charged based on the number of persons residing in the home.

Commercial customers are billed for sewer use based on their actual water consumption. Some commercial customers use meters to separately measure water that does not drain to the sanitary sewer system, such as water used for irrigation or cooling systems. These metering arrangements do not benefit residential customers, whose winter quarter water consumption limits the amount of sewer usage billed in the summer months.

Commercial customers who use the County’s sanitary sewer system, but obtain water from a well, have another billing arrangement. These customers are charged based on the number of fixtures in the commercial building.

Sewer Rate Increase

The County Board has approved a residential Base Charge of $12.79 per quarter, an increase of $7.29 per quarter over the current rate of $5.50. The Base Charge for commercial customers will vary depending on the meter size. The larger the meter size, the higher the Base Charge. The current volumetric Service Charge of $6.55 per 1000 gallons will remain unchanged for both residential and commercial customers. The new rates will be visible on bills with meter readings on or after October 1, 2013.

More information can be found at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/wastewater/sewerrate.htm  or you can call 703-324-5015, TTY 711 with questions.