Wastewater Management protects the public’s health and the region’s water quality by collecting and treating wastewater (sewage-water discharged from homes and businesses through the sanitary sewer system). The system collects and cleans wastewater for residential and business connections in Fairfax County. The county’s wastewater collection and conveyance system is one of the nation’s largest sanitary sewer systems. Wastewater is treated to meet or surpass state and federal water quality standards. Once treated, the clean water is released back into the region’s waterways.
Fairfax County’s Wastewater Plant Celebrates 50 Years of Service to the Community
Fairfax County’s wastewater treatment plant protects human and environmental health, water quality and aquatic life.
It is the policy of the Fairfax County Wastewater Management Program to protect and enhance the environment and provide for the health, safety, and well being of those who work, live, and visit in Fairfax county. We commit ourselves to these principles:
Comply with or surpass all regulatory requirements.
Seek continual improvement by embracing opportunities and challenges of technological advancement, best management practices, and training.
Strive to eliminate negative environmental impacts through community involvement and engagement, pollution prevention, and employee training.
Establish open and consistent communication through employee and community partnerships.
By the Numbers
Residential Customer Accounts
345,055
Commercial Customer Accounts
28,378
Miles Sanitary Sewer Pipe
3,300
Lab Analysis Conducted Annually
240,000
Sewer Science High School and Middle School Student participants annually
2,817
Million Gallons Treated Daily at Noman M. Cole Jr., Pollution Control Plant
35
Million Gallons Treated Daily at Other Regional Plants Serving the County
57
Million Gallons Reclaimed Daily
1.7
Data for FY2023
Planning & Monitoring
Financial and engineering planning are conducted to ensure funding and infrastructure are available to meet current and future wastewater needs. Analyses are conducted by the Wastewater Management’s (WWM) Environmental Laboratory to ensure regulatory compliance with state and federal laws and to provide quality control in the treatment process. In addition to laboratory testing, ecosystem monitoring in and around the receiving waters is conducted. WWM also administers the National Pretreatment Program which regulates industrial users of the sanitary sewer system in accordance with the Clean Water Act to protect health, safety and the environment.
Collection
The county’s wastewater collection and conveyance system includes sanitary sewer lines, pumping stations, and flow metering stations. The county monitors these components to provide continuous sewer service to its customers and a 24-hour trouble response service for unforeseen sewer backups.
Treatment
All wastewater is treated using state-of-the-art physical, biological and chemical processes to remove pollutants and pathogens that are harmful to the environment. Wastewater from county homes and businesses is treated at one of several treatment facilities throughout the region. The county owns and operates the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant, located in Lorton, which treats approximately 40 million gallons per day of wastewater from homes and businesses
Wastewater Management protects the public’s health and the region’s water quality by collecting and treating wastewater (sewage-water discharged from homes and businesses through the sanitary sewer system). The system collects and cleans wastewater for residential and business connections in Fairfax County. The county’s wastewater collection and conveyance system is one of the nation’s largest sanitary sewer systems. Wastewater is treated to meet or surpass state and federal water quality standards. Once treated, the clean water is released back into the region’s waterways.