As Prince William County grows, officials highlight the need for new water sources to meet future demand. A primary concern is the expansion of data centers, which have become a significant consumer of water.
Calvin Farr, General Manager of Prince William Water, explained the county’s projected water needs: "We have dynamic hydraulic models we look at, really, to see if we can handle the additional growth. And if we don't, we identify capital needs. At that point, we put that in our master plan for capital needs that, you know, that is needed to supply additional growth."
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On July 1, 2024, the Prince William County Service Authority will rebrand as Prince William Water to reflect its mission better and enhance its environmental messaging.
Following the name change, customers can expect several updates, including a new website at princewilliamwater.org, offering improved navigation, better accessibility, and new features.
A mobile application for account management, payments, and reporting issues will also be available in the Apple App and Google Play stores. The existing customer engagement portal will continue to provide services such as viewing water and sewer usage, setting up recurring or scheduled payments, and managing accounts.
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The Prince William County Service Authority has recently recognized the achievements of 11 middle and high school students from Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park for their outstanding submissions in the 2024 Prince William-Manassas Regional Science & Engineering Fair.
Teaming up annually with Prince William County Schools, the Service Authority reviews water- and wastewater-related projects in the Science & Engineering Fair, singling out exceptional endeavors for Service Authority Organizational Awards. The winners of this year’s student competition were presented with cash prizes and accolades during the May 9 Service Authority Board of Directors meeting.
Among the honored students is Lily Lu from Ronald Reagan Middle School, who clinched First Place in the Middle Division with her project titled “The Effect of Different Types of Bivalve Shell Filtration on Stream Water Quality.” Lily delved into the efficacy of bivalve shell filtration, specifically examining oysters, clams, and mussels, and their impact on enhancing stream water quality.
In the Senior Division, Dylan Borek, Josh Rizer, and Izidor Yatsevich of The Governor’s School at Innovation Park secured First Place with their project investigating “The Effects of Ocean Acidification and Ultraviolet Radiation on Spirulina major.”
Michelle Miranda, the Service Authority’s Community Outreach Supervisor, praised the exceptional talent of these young scientists, emphasizing the dedication, expertise, and hard work demonstrated in each project. Miranda expressed the Service Authority’s commitment to nurturing the passion of every student for water quality treatment and environmental stewardship.
The complete list of winners includes:
Middle Division:
– First Place: Lily Lu, Ronald Reagan Middle School
– Second Place: Aysha Jafar & Salma Jafar, Ronald Reagan Middle School
– Third Place: Erin Jansen, The Nokesville School
– General Manager’s Awards: Zoey Davis, Marsteller Middle School
Senior Division:
– First Place: Dylan Borek, Josh Rizer & Izidor Yatsevich, The Governor’s School at Innovation Park
– Second Place: Andrew Funk & Sofia Wojcik, The Governor’s School at Innovation Park
– Third Place: Jocelyn Ellis, Osbourn Park High School
The dedication and ingenuity displayed by these students underscore the innovative potential within our local educational community.
Prince William County Service Authority: From late March until mid-May 2024, Prince William County Service Authority personnel and trucks will be at various locations throughout our service area to perform the annual water system flushing.
Crews will open fire hydrants in brief intervals to forcefully draw water through our network of pipes and dislodge sediments and minerals that may have collected during the year.
Customers may experience a brief period of cloudiness in their water as sediments are agitated in their local pipes. If this occurs, customers can run cold tap water for approximately two minutes until the cloudiness dissipates.
“Spring flushing” also includes a short-term change in drinking water disinfectants from chloramine to free chlorine, which may cause a slight chlorine taste and smell in the tap water.
“Scheduled system-wide flushing is a best maintenance management practice recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Health to protect water quality within the distribution systems,” said Jonathan Okafor, Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance.
To view Frequently Asked Questions about the System Flushing Program, please visit pwcsa.org/water-distribution-system-flushing-program-faq. For updates specifying the areas and times where our crews are flushing, visit the Service Authority Facebook and X pages.
Prince William County Service Authority: “The Prince William County Service Authority will host its 2024 Water Art Invitational Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 14, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s ceremony will be held at Forest Park High School, 15721 Forest Park Drive, in Woodbridge.”
“Doors open at 5 p.m. to explore the gallery of 154 pieces of student artwork submitted for this year’s Water Art Invitational. The Awards Ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m.”
“Students in grades 9 through 12 who attend public, private and homeschool programs in Prince William County were eligible to enter the 2024 Water Art Invitational. Participants were asked to visually depict this year’s theme, ‘Water Nurtures Everything,’ using painting/drawing, computer graphics or photography. Student artists were allowed to submit up to one piece per category, bringing their distinctive, individual style to each entry.”
“For more than 20 years, the Water Art Invitational has encouraged, recognized and rewarded the talented young artists of Prince William County. The 2024 Water Art Invitational Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Service Authority’s Facebook page.”
The start of the construction for the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility-Wide Improvements Project, known as the Mooney Design-Build Project, signals a significant milestone for the Prince William County Service Authority.
With an investment nearing $200 million, this multi-year initiative is poised to revolutionize the plant’s wastewater treatment processes, paving the way for enhanced operational resiliency.
At the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Mooney facility in December 2023, key stakeholders, including Service Authority’s General Manager and CEO Calvin D. Farr, Jr., Director of Environmental Services & Water Reclamation Glenn Pearson, and Director of the Project Management Office Shannon Spence, shared their insights. Representatives from construction firms involved in the project, such as Ulliman Schutte Construction, HDR Inc., and AECOM, also attended the event.
Calvin Farr, General Manager of the Service Authority, emphasized the project’s historic significance, stating, “This project is a critical development for the Service Authority, and it’s the largest single project that we have ever undertaken, so we’re making history.”
Erin Hunt, President of Global Water Program at HDR Inc., underscored the project’s alignment with the Service Authority’s values, particularly in environmental leadership and sustainable operations, saying, “This project really capitalizes on the Service Authority’s key Areas of Excellence including, among others, environmental leadership, community engagement, continuous improvement and innovation, and sustainable operations.”
The Mooney Design-Build Project comprises 19 components, primarily focused on rehabilitating existing infrastructure. Notable upgrades include the construction of a new pretreatment facility, expansion and centralization of the odor control system, and various electrical and structural enhancements.
Addressing concerns about potential disruptions, Shannon Spence, Director of the Project Management Office, reassured stakeholders that construction activities would be contained within the H.L. Mooney AWRF property line, minimizing impacts on customers and neighbors.
Looking ahead, the completion of the Mooney Design-Build Project is expected to enhance the Service Authority’s ability to meet regulatory standards and ensure operational resiliency. By investing in aging infrastructure, the Service Authority aims to continue delivering treatment services, protecting the environment, and maintaining strong community partnerships.
The H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility is 1861 Rippon Boulevard in Woodbridge.
