About Your Bill
The Billing Process
You may see the Fairfax Water Meter Reading Team in your neighborhood reading water meters. Our employees always have a photo ID with them when they are on the job and their clothing bears our logo. This meter reading is used to calculate your bill and is done about a week before you receive the bill.
Your Fairfax Water bill will include your account number, your water and sewer service charges, the amount due, the payment due date, and messages about your service. An explanation of all charges can be found on the back of your bill.
Your bill is due in 30 days. To learn about Past Due charges, click here.
Questions about your billing should be directed to Fairfax Water at 703.698.5800, TTY 711.
Water Service and Usage Charges
Your first bill includes an Account Charge, which covers the administrative cost of establishing a new account and having the field technician turn on the water and take an initial meter reading.
Service Charge will appear on every bill. It is based on meter size and covers expenses including meter maintenance including reading, repairs, and replacement, as well as customer service.
Water usage is billed at a rate per 1,000 gallons. We also refer to the water usage on your bill as consumption.
- Water Usage Charge for New Accounts - New customers pay a slightly higher rate because they are not charged for their Peak Use until they establish their Winter Quarter consumption.
- Water Usage Charge for Established Accounts - Established accounts are subject to a Peak Use charge.
For more details about Fairfax Water Rates, Fees and Charges, click here.
For more information on Winter Quarter and Peak Use, click here.
Peak Use Charges
The peak use charge is used to recover the costs of constructing the facilities required to meet peak capacity demands. Only those customers whose water use patterns place peak capacity demands on the water system are subject to the peak use charge.
Your winter quarter consumption, which is based on water use during the billing cycle ending in February, March or April of each year, serves as the basis for calculating the peak use charge. As well as, for some customers, the way in which sewer consumption is billed. Winter quarter consumption is updated each June 1st. The peak use charge does not appear on your bill until you have had a full winter quarter.
Fairfax Water “smooths” your winter quarter consumption when your winter quarter reading falls outside of the ideal, 91 days. This ensures this important measure is formulated equitably for all customers. We calculate a customer’s daily average water consumption for that billing period, and multiply it by 91. For monthly customers, the daily average water consumption is multiplied by 30.
Peak use charges apply to water use exceeding 1.3 times the preceding winter quarter consumption or 6,000 gallons above the preceding winter quarter consumption, whichever is greater. Only two of the four quarterly bills you receive each year are subject to peak use charges - those based on meter readings taken June through November.
Effective April 1, 2024, peak use is billed at a rate of $4.10 per 1,000 gallons. This is in addition to the Water Usage Charge ($3.84 per 1,000 gallons) which applies to all consumption.
For monthly customers, your winter month consumption, which is based on water used during the cycle ending in March of each year, serves as the basis for calculating the peak use charge. Charges apply to water use exceeding 1.3 times the preceding winter monthly consumption. Only six of the twelve monthly bills you receive each year are subject to peak use charges – those based on meter readings taken May through October.
Sewer Charges
Fairfax Water does not provide your sewer service, but we do provide sewer billing for Fairfax County and the Cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. This is a cost-saving measure and convenience for our customers.
Your sewer rates and associated billing methodology are established by your sewer service provider. It is a combination of a base charge and usage. It may also include taxes and/or other fees.
For more detail about Sewer Charges, click here.
Past Due Charges
Bills issued by Fairfax Water are due and payable when rendered. Water charges not paid within 30 days of the billing date are subject to a 10% Late Payment Charge, which appears on a Reminder Notice. If you believe you have received a Reminder Notice in error, please call Customer Service at 703.698.5800.
Account charges not paid within 10 days of the Reminder Notice may lead to the disconnection of service on or after the Disconnect Date printed on our Third and Final Notice. If you receive this notice after making payment, please call 703.289.6185. To avoid interruption of water service, payment must be received in our office prior to the Disconnect Date. A night depository is located on the front of our office building by the Flag for your convenience.
In the event it becomes necessary to disconnect water service due to nonpayment, the past due amount and a $57 Turn Off/Turn On Charge must be received in our office before service will be restored. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm ET.
Any appeals, questions, objections, explanations, or disputes concerning bills rendered by Fairfax Water may be directed to a Customer Service supervisor by telephone or in person during office hours.