New Fees in Effect for Water Usage

Starting today, the Service Authority begins implementation a new rate and fee schedule that will increase over the next few years to cover financial needs of the organization.

A 13-page document details the scheduled fee increases and can be found online or in the lobby of the Service Authority's headquarters in the Prince William County Government Center.

New fees that are in effect include a $25 new account application fee at the time a new account is opened, a $35 return trip fee if a Service Authority employee has to return to a property a third time to connect water service and a new monthly service charge fee schedule.

Updated rates are determined in three-year cycles in order to slowly phase in additional charges and alleviate the financial burden on customers.

This monthly service charge, which will increase over the next three years, is used to cover administrative fixed costs and is determined based on the size of the water meter at the service address. For a complete list of meter sizes and fees, see the attached document.

Another fee will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011 for excess use of water. The charge, $1.35 for the 2011 calendar year, will be billed when 1,000 gallons are added to metered water volume charges.

Late payment fees, service restoration, delinquency fees, unauthorized use charges, refuse collection and commodity charges are also detailed in the new schedule.

Service Authority, which provides water and sewer facilities and services to Prince William County, was created in 1983 by a resolution made by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors.