PWCSA News

Protect Yourself from Water Utility Imposters

jlp@pwcsa.org (PWCSA) — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:15:50 +0000

The Prince William County Service Authority cautions customers to be aware of individuals who falsely claim to be Service Authority employees and request access to their homes or businesses to collect water quality samples. Protect yourself and your home from imposters with the following facts:

Our employees in the field always wear a Service Authority uniform and carry an ID badge.
All Service Authority vehicles display the utility’s logo.
The majority of Service Authority business in the field is conducted outside of homes.
Service Authority employees NEVER:
- Initiate an in-home visit without a scheduled appointment.
- Conduct financial transactions or ask for personal information in the field.
Ask anyone potentially posing as a Service Authority employee for their supervisor's name and telephone number.
Do not allow anyone into your home if you are uncomfortable or suspicious.

Report Suspected Imposters
If you have any questions about whether a person at your door is a Service Authority employee, please call the Authority’s 24-hour emergency dispatcher at (703) 335-7982 or the Prince William County Police Department non-emergency line at (703) 792-6500.

PWCSA Honors 2013 Regional Science Fair Contestants

jlp@pwcsa.org (PWCSA) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:50:40 +0000

Pictured above (left to right): Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian, PWCSA Board Member; Mr. Paul Ruecker, PWCSA Board Vice Chairman; Jonathan Brooks, Lake Ridge Middle School; Mr. L. Ben Thompson, PWCSA Board Member; Aliyah Desautels, Gainesville Middle School; Nick Shablom, Battlefield High School; Mr. Eric Young, PWCSA Board Member; Edwin Vargas, Freedom High School; Mr. David Rutherford, PWCSA Board Member; Julia Buchinsky, Bull Run Middle School; Ms. Janice Carr, PWCSA Board Secretary-Treasurer; Emma Glass, Bull Run Middle School; Mr. Alex Vanegas, PWCSA Board Chairman; Ms. Joyce Eagles, PWCSA Board Member.

PWCSA Honors 2013 Regional Science Fair Contestants

PWCSA recognized seven middle and high school students on April 11 for developing outstanding projects that focused on water, wastewater or the environment for this year’s Prince William-Manassas Regional Science Fair. The PWCSA Board of Directors issues Organizational Awards to Science Fair participants whose project research aligns with the Authority’s mission and vision.

WINNING STUDENTS:

Senior Division
1st Place - Edwin Vargas
2nd Place - Maralee Bell
3rd Place - Nicholas Shablom

Middle Division
1st Place - Jonathan Brooks
2nd Place - Emma Glass
3rd Place - Aliyah Desautels
Honorable Mention - Julia Buchinsky

To see images from this year's event, click play on the slide show below.

Friends of the Occoquan Cleanup Events

jlp@pwcsa.org (PWCSA) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:29:06 +0000

The Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) will host its Occoquan River spring cleanup at five different local sites on Saturday, April 27, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. To learn more, please CLICK HERE.

PWC Police to Hold Rx Drug Take-Back Day

jlp@pwcsa.org (PWCSA) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:57:28 +0000

Local police and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will offer a safe, free, and anonymous way to dispose of unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at several locations throughout the county. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Volunteers with Small Watercraft Experience Needed for Occoquan River Cleanup

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:28:50 +0000

The Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition and its community partners are seeking volunteers to participate in a cleanup of the Occoquan River on Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain date: April 20). Canoeists and kayakers are asked to pre-register for the event to ensure provision of enough gloves, trash bags, trailer/shuttle support, water bottles, snacks and T-shirts. For more information or and to register for this community cleanup event, please CLICK HERE.

PWCSA Water Art Invitational 2013

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:46:23 +0000

The Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) awarded 14 Prince William County high school students for their excellent entries at the 2013 Water Art Invitational ceremony on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The eleventh annual contest requires participating students to portray drinking water in one of the following three categories: painting and drawing, photography, and computer graphics. Students also had to use those visual arts mediums to interpret the theme of this year’s event “Water is life. Water is precious”.

Students submitted more than 120 pieces of artwork which were reviewed by a panel of 10 judges representing a wide variety of industries and expertise. Twenty-three corporate sponsors from in and around Prince William County generously provided 100 percent of the funding for the contest.
“We are honored to be able to advance a legacy of rewarding creativity and environmental stewardship among young people, who are the future leaders of the community,” said Amy Brush, who coordinated this year’s event. “Every year, the students who participate in the Water Art Invitational demonstrate a deep appreciation for life’s most precious resource through their beautiful, imaginative, and often-compelling entries.”

PWCSA Board Member Mrs. Joyce Eagles welcomed the lively crowd that filled the customer lobby of the Raymond Spittle Building in the County Government Center in Woodbridge. PWCSA Board Secretary-Treasurer Janice Carr, announced the following 2013 contest winners, who are as follows:

Grand Prize Winner – Alexa Limcaoco from Ms. McIntyre’s class at Patriot HS. (Painting/Drawing)

Painting/Drawing:
1st place – Audrey Ramsey from Ms. Burns’ class at Battlefield HS.
2nd place – Gareth Bentall from Ms. McIntyre’s class at Patriot HS.
3rd place – Victoria Hurlburt from Ms. Burns’ class at Battlefield HS.
Honorable Mention – Katrina Vanderveldt from Ms. Burns’ class at Battlefield HS.
Honorable Mention – Regina Young-Tueros from Mr. Proch’s class at Gar-Field HS.

Photography (Color/Black and White):
1st place – Gabriela Quintanilla from Ms. McFarland’s class at Osbourn Park HS.
2nd place – Emma Jamison from Ms. Solliday’s class at Forest Park HS.
3rd place – Nathan Johnson from Ms. Petropulos’ class at Woodbridge HS.
Honorable Mention – Christine Colatosti from Ms. McFarland’s class at Osbourn Park HS.

Computer Graphics:
1st place – Jordan Fernandez from Mr. McGaugh’s class at Battlefield HS.
2nd place – Kimberly Turcios from Mr. McGaugh’s class at Battlefield HS.
3rd place – Tommy Becker from Ms. Williams’ class at Forest Park HS.
Honorable Mention – Kimberly Howe from Mr. McGaugh’s class at Battlefield HS.

The Adventures of Otis and Bubbles

help@bluewatermedia.com (BWM) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 01:12:36 +0000

How “Going Mobile” Helps PWCSA Provide High Quality Water.

help@bluewatermedia.com (BWM) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:39:50 +0000

Maintaining a consistent amount of disinfectant in the water throughout the Service Authority’s distribution system is critical to ensuring high quality. Chloramines – a blend of chlorine and ammonia – are added to the water supply at the treatment plant to protect against bacteria and viruses, and last longer in the water system than chlorine alone. Authority personnel perform hundreds of rapid chlorine level tests at water sample collection sites every month. Chlorine levels are also continuously monitored through remote sensors located within the distribution system. If the amount of disinfectant begins to drop in a particular area of the system, the Authority can dispatch its custom-built mobile rechlorination trailer. Most often, the mobile unit is connected at water storage tanks to add chloramines to water in specific areas. Levels are more likely to need a boost during the summer months as heat causes chloramines to dissipate more rapidly. The Service Authority’s comprehensive water quality testing and regulatory compliance program is an essential part of providing customers with clean, high quality water.

PWCSA Breaks Ground for New Water Quality Testing Laboratory

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Pictured above are (left to right): Mr. Dean Dickey, PWCSA General Manager; Mr. L. Ben Thompson, PWCSA Board Member; Mr. David Rutherford, PWCSA Board Member; Mr. Paul Ruecker, PWCSA Board Vice Chairman; The Honorable Maureen Caddigan, Potomac District Supervisor; The Honorable John Jenkins, Neabsco District Supervisor; Ms. Janice Carr, PWCSA Board Secretary-Treasurer; Mr. Rick Maynard; Ms. Kim Maynard; Mr. Alex Vanegas, PWCSA Board Chairman; Dr. K. Jack Kooyoomjian, PWCSA Board Member; Ms. Joyce Eagles, PWCSA Board Member; Ms. Devon Cabot, Assistant to The Honorable Frank Principi, Woodbridge District Supervisor; Mr. Eric Young, PWCSA Board Member; and Ms. Diana Meiser, Aide to The Honorable Pete Candland, Gainesville District Supervisor.

Members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and their representatives joined the Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) Board of Directors and distinguished guests for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Durward E. Grubbs, Jr. Environmental Center in mid-January. The Center will be constructed on the campus of the H. L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility (AWRF), and will primarily accommodate a new state-of-the-art water quality laboratory designed to meet today’s higher wastewater treatment standards. It will also provide necessary space for administrative and laboratory staff, as well as lab equipment.

The scale of PWCSA’s water reclamation operations have greatly increased since the Mooney AWRF became operational more than 30 years ago. Since then, PWCSA has implemented two major wastewater treatment process and capacity upgrades. However, the laboratory and administration offices have not expanded with the rest of the Facility over the past three decades. Constructing a new building to provide adequate workspace for those two essential departments created an opportunity to allocate a small portion of the new structure for visitors to learn about the value of water and the services PWCSA provides a quarter of a million people throughout Prince William County.

PWCSA Celebrates Its 30th Birthday!

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:01:00 +0000

The Service Authority marked its 30th birthday in mid-January 2013 with specially decorated cakes, commemorative gifts, and an ice cream social for employees and Board Members.

General Manager Dean Dickey hosted the occasion, saying to employees, "Thank you for making a point each day to offer excellent service to our customers. Your unwavering dedication to excellence in all we do admirably reflects the Service Authority's daily mission to provide clean water and quality service, and to never stop striving to be the very best."

Mr. Dickey also publically honored staff members who have been employed with the Authority since its inception three decades ago. Happy birthday, PWCSA!

Tips For Winterizing Your Plumbing

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Find Your Main Shut-Off Valve!

Don’t wait! Imagine the panic you would feel if water started pouring through the house from a broken pipe. Locate the main shut-off valve, mark it, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

Helping to Prevent Frozen Water Pipes:

Seal any air drafts around fixtures.
Insulate pipes in unheated areas.
When freezing weather is in the forecast, turn off the water to outside spigots and drain all water from the line.
Drain in-ground lawn irrigation systems. (Check manufacturer instructions for best method.)
Report broken or missing meter lids to the Service Authority to help prevent frozen meters.
Set the thermostat to no less than 55° F or simply shut off the main valve to protect pipes during extended absences from home in the winter.

If Your Water Pipes Freeze:

Turn on the closest cold water faucet to relieve pressure from expanding ice in pipes.
Wrap towels soaked with warm water around pipes to gradually thaw them.
DO NOT attempt using a blow torch or hairdryer to thaw frozen pipes since intense heat can cause them to crack or burst.

Please call PWCSA Emergency Dispatch at (703) 335-7990 if you have a total service disruption.

GO GREEN WITH E-BILL

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

“Go Green” by signing up for E-Bill. When you sign up for E-Bill, you'll no longer get a paper version in the mail. Instead, you will receive an email notification when your monthly bill is ready to view online. E-Bill is a great secure service that is also Environmentally Friendly, Convenient and Easy.

To sign-up for eBill, simply log on to the Service Authority's secure Customer Self Service site and select the "eBill Preferences" option.

You can also take advantage of our FREE e-check payment option or pay by credit or debit card with a nominal transaction charge.

For more information login to Customer Self Service or call (703) 335-7950.

PWCSA Earns Leading National Water Sector Award

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Woodbridge, VA – October 23, 2012 – The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) presented the Prince William County Service Authority with the Platinum Award for Utility Excellence at the Association’s 2012 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon yesterday. PWCSA General Manager Dean Dickey was present to receive the Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in implementing nationally-recognized attributes for effective water sector utility management.

PWCSA places great significance on providing cost-effective, reliable service to its customers through its continual enhancement of customer service, business operations, environmental stewardship and community outreach. The following accomplishments rank among the many achievements that earned PWCSA this prestigious industry award:

Sustained system reliability rate of 99.999%.

Received Standard & Poor’s highest bond rating (AAA) for outstanding financial management.
Upgraded the H. L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility to further protect and revitalize the Chesapeake Bay.
Established the Temporary Assistance Program (TAP) for customers who need help paying their water bills.
Deliver efficient and effective service through workforce training and technology.
Engage and enrich the community by conducting proactive outreach programs that explain the value of water to customers.

“Winning the AMWA Platinum Award for Utility Excellence demonstrates the dedication of PWCSA’s extremely professional staff,” said Mr. Dickey. “We take great pride in this prestigious recognition of our commitment to providing the very best service to our customers and the community every day.”

The criteria for the Platinum Award were developed by a panel of highly respected water and wastewater utility executives, and commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AMWA and other prominent water industry associations. PWCSA won the AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Service in 2008.

For more information, contact Communications Director Keenan Howell at (703) 335-8914 or khowell@pwcsa.org.

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PWCSA provides drinking water and water reclamation services
to 250,000 customers throughout Prince William County.

Help Neighbors in Need: Contribute to TAP!

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The Service Authority is pleased to announce the launch of its Temporary Assistance Program, or TAP, to help local families in need of emergency financial assistance. TAP funds are directed to two local Prince William County charitable organizations, ACTS and Serve, to distribute to customers needing emergency assistance with paying their Service Authority bills.

DONATING TO TAP

Contributions in any amount are appreciated and will provide critical support to TAP. The Service Authority absorbs all administrative costs of the program, so donors can be assured that 100% of their contributions are going towards helping their neighbors in need.

Water Quality Reports

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

It's your water. Get to know it!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all water utilities to produce annual water quality reports that convey important information and characteristics about the water they provide to their customers. To view the most recent PWCSA water quality report for your service area, please select the hyperlinked report below that corresponds to your account location:

Most of the drinking water PWCSA provides to customers throughout Prince William County is treated at facilities owned and operated by Fairfax Water. For more information about Fairfax Water and water quality, please CLICK HERE.

If you have questions about your water quality, please contact Dr. Evelyn Mahieu, Director of Environmental Services and Compliance, at (703) 335-7932 or by email at emahieu@pwcsa.org.

Water-Wise Landscaping & Watering Guide

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cultivating a water-wise landscape doesn’t mean giving up the desire for a healthy lawn or even making dramatic changes to your landscape or lifestyle! In fact, efficient lawn irrigation is one of the best and easiest ways to practice wise water use. Besides conserving water, smart watering practices will also keep your landscaped plants healthy and beautiful all year long. Just click on the following cover image of this colorful, practical and easy-to-understand booklet to learn ways you can “go greener” without having to sacrifice your “green thumb”.

Water-Wise Landscaping and Watering Guide

Important Changes to Tenant Accounts

khowell@pwcsa.org (Keenan) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The following changes to the Code of Virginia Section 15.2-5139 and 15.2-2119 regarding the management of tenant accounts went into effect on July 1, 2012:

Property owners must authorize their tenant or Agent/Manager to establish service. A completed Owner Authorization Form must be submitted to the Service Authority within 15 calendar days of the date a tenant or Agent/Manager established an account with the Authority to ensure continuation of the tenant’s or Agent/Manager’s service. The Authority will send the owner a confirmation letter once service is initiated.
Tenants and Agent/Managers will be required to pay an Advance Payment of $250.00 that will be billed. The Advance Payment will be held until the tenant’s account is closed and applied to the final bill. An owner may request to waive the Advance Payment if the tenant receives rental assistance from local, state or federal agencies. All existing tenant accounts will not be required to pay the Advance Payment unless they move to a new location.
The Service Authority will continue to send owners a copy of the tenant’s final bill along with a letter referencing the expected lien date if payment is not received within 30 days from the date of the letter. The Authority will also send owners an additional notice at 15 days past the final bill date if the bill remains unpaid.

Should you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact our Collections Department by phone at (703) 335-7950, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or you may send an email to CustomerService@pwcsa.org with “Lien Law” in the subject line.

Please CLICK HERE to begin your application process.