You flush. It goes away. But have you ever wondered where it goes—and how it gets there?

In Fairfax County, our wastewater system handles nearly 100 million gallons every day. Most of it flows downhill thanks to gravity. But when wastewater needs to go uphill? That’s where pump stations come in.

These essential but often overlooked facilities help move wastewater to treatment plants, keeping our communities clean, healthy, and safe. Fairfax County operates 70 of them—many in residential areas—and chances are, you’ve walked or driven past one without even knowing it.

Watch the video to bust some common myths and learn why pump stations are one of the most important parts of our public infrastructure.