City Customers May See Lower Water Rates

Sign up for the Fairfax City Patch newsletter!

Starting July 1, Fairfax City residents could start paying lower rates for water service, the city announced Tuesday.

The Fairfax Water Board of Directors is proposing to place Fairfax City water customers on the same rate schedule as Fairfax Water legacy customers, effective with meter readings taken on or after July 1, according to a statement from the city government.

This means water rates would be “equalized” — so city customers pay the same rates as Fairfax Water legacy customers — much sooner than the original January 2017 deadline.

By accelerating the equalization timetable, city customers would benefit from a 44 percent commodity rate reduction 18 months earlier than scheduled, according to the statement. Individual customer savings will vary based on usage.

Fairfax Water serves nearly 2 million people in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church.

In the statement, Mayor Scott Silverthorne praised Fairfax Water for moving quickly to equalize rates, calling the decision a big win for city ratepayers.

A public hearing on the proposed rate change is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. May 21 at Fairfax Water’s Fred Morin Building, 8570 Executive Park Avenue, Fairfax. The proposed rates are scheduled for adoption on May 21 or soon thereafter.

Information is being mailed to all city water customers. For more information, call 703-698-5600 (TTY: 711) or email PR@fairfaxwater.org.