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An Interview with Fairfax Water Board Chairman Philip W. Allin
Q. As Chairman of the Fairfax Water Board of Directors, what is your priority for 2013?
A. I believe the Board’s priority in 2013 is to continue to be good financial stewards for Fairfax Water. All of the Board members are Fairfax Water customers who have the responsibility to represent our fellow customers. We are dedicated to providing the highest-quality water, in abundant quantity and reliability, at the most affordable rates. Fairfax Water’s rates remain the lowest in the region.
Q. How will you accomplish this?
A. We’re fortunate to serve 1.7 million people - and growing - which provides for significant economy of scale. In addition, we’re very proactive in planning financially for future capital investments. By implementing smaller, more strategic changes to our rates and fees, we avoid burdening customers with unpredictable and substantial rate increases or assessments.
Q. You mentioned that Fairfax Water is growing. Can you explain how?
A. In November 2012, the City of Falls Church, Fairfax Water, and Fairfax County successfully negotiated terms for the sale of the Falls Church Water Utility to Fairfax Water, pending approval by Falls Church voters in November 2013. If approved, the sale will add 140,000 new Fairfax Water customers, many who live in Fairfax County. In April, the City of Fairfax, Fairfax Water, and Fairfax County agreed upon a framework under which all current Fairfax City water customers would become retail customers of Fairfax Water. This will add 40,000 new customers. We also added the Town of Vienna as a wholesale customer in 2012.
Q. Will integrating these two neighboring systems and adding another wholesale customer affect current Fairfax Water customers?
A. It’s all good news! These changes will not affect the water rates or service reliability of current Fairfax Water customers and can only strengthen our financial foundation and our infrastructure resilience. Q. What do you want customers to learn from reading this report? A. I hope customers will feel confident that we are successfully balancing the needs of today with the demands of tomorrow in a way that protects their family’s health, their quality of life, and their pocketbook. We are building an even more robust water system to serve Fairfax and Northern Virginia well into the future.