What is wastewater management?
Why are sewer service charges on the water bill?
What is the sewer collection system?
What should I do if I have a sewer backup or other sewer trouble?
Who is responsible if the trouble is located in a customer’s service line?
What is wastewater management?
Wastewater management focuses on the control of water that is collected in discrete conveyances (also called point sources), including pipes, ditches, and sanitary or storm sewers. It is the proper collection, treatment, and discharge of domestic wastes from households and industries, in order to clean, protect, and minimize adverse environmental and public health effects on our nation’s water. Wastewater from households and industries is collected in sanitary sewers, and usually treated at a municipal wastewater treatment plant. After treatment, the wastewater is discharged to its receiving water (e.g., a river, an estuary, or an ocean).
Why are sewer service charges on the water bill?
The water billing agents provide this combined bill for convenience and cost savings. The quarterly sewer service charge is determined by your water consumption during the prior winter quarter. Funds collected for sewer charges are then transferred to the Sanitary Sewer Fund, which is used to support the operations and maintenance of the collection system.
What is the sewer collection system?
The Fairfax County sewer collection system consists of approximately 3200 miles of pipe. Your home or business is connected by a service line to the sanitary sewer system. The Wastewater Collection Division of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services operates and maintains the collection system. The resident or building owner maintains the private service line or sewer lateral.
What should I do if I have a sewer backup or other sewer trouble?
At the first sign of malfunctioning or damaged sewer lines, call the 24-Hour Trouble Response Center number 703-323-1211, TTY 711. A Trouble Response inspector from the Wastewater Collection Division will inspect the county sewer. If the problem is in the county sewer, the county will take corrective action.
Who is responsible if the trouble is located in a customer’s service line?
The resident or building owner is responsible for resolving problems or damages resulting from blockages in the service line. This extends from the home/business to the county sewer, including the connection to the sewer. Contact your insurance carrier for information about sewer backup insurance, which is normally available at reasonable rates.
- Do not pour cooking oils and grease down your household drains. Cooking oils and grease should be disposed of in the trash, as they may cause problems in your service line and possibly the county sewer.
- Do not vandalize or tamper with sanitary sewer manholes. If you see anyone lifting manhole covers and putting objects such as sticks, logs, bricks, glass bottles, etc., down the manholes, please report it immediately. This tampering causes sewer blockages which result in sewer backups or overflows into private homes and backyards. Report acts of vandalism or tampering with manholes to 703-323-1211, TTY 711 .
Vandalism to the sewer collection system creates significant environmental problems and increased costs for county sewer rate payers. Your assistance will help in keeping your neighborhood from experiencing sewer backups and spills.