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SANITARY SEWER SA – Add “Sanitary” to the title to

distinguish from storm sewer.
Intent Service Authority comments denoted as
“SA”. Health Department comments
denoted as “HD”.
The intent of the Sewer Plan is to facilitate the provision of adequate wastewater
treatment and cost-effective sewer facilities in a manner consistent with development as
reflected by the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map in compliance with the Occoquan
Policy, the Potomac Embayment Standards, and Virginia Department of Health Sewer
Regulations; and to address existing and potential conditions that could otherwise
adversely impact the natural environment and public health, safety, and welfare.

Public sewer is planned and mapped for the Development Area. New development in SA – Delete dashes. On-site sewerage
the Development Area will occur with the provision of public sewer facilities, except in systems should be discouraged in the SRR
the Semi-Rural Residential (SRR) designation, where on-site sewerage systems may area; the primary option should be
also be used. Development in the Rural Area shall occur without public sewer facilities, connection to public sewer with the
except where provided for in this chapter—to address specific public health concerns or exception being on-site sewerage systems.
to serve a specific public facility. Any extension of public sewers into the Rural Area, Public sewer should be permitted in the
however, shall not be used as a justification for increasing the residential densities that Rural Area, so long as the land use plan is
are shown on the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map for the Rural Area. The Sewer Plan followed and densities are not increased
discourages alternative decentralized on-site sewerage systems in the Rural Area, where beyond those allowed by the land use plan.
more than one lot is to share such a system.
HD – Change “Alternative” to
“decentralized onsite” sewerage. If the
extension of sewer does not allow higher
density and if the homes are clustered at
rural residential densities, then there may
be less land disturbance than with
individual on-site systems on each lot.
“Decentralized” on-site systems serving
multiple lots should not be allowed unless
operated by the Service Authority. Prior
SA boards have said they would only

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operate them at a cost borne by the homes

served, which has been prohibitive.
Consideration also needs to be given to
allow the individual parcels which would
contain an on-site system owned by the lot
it serves but the “on-site system parcel”
would only contain the system and a
replacement area.
The Sewer Plan includes the following components:

• Intent, Goal, Policies, and Action Strategies

• Prince William County Comprehensive Plan Proposed Sewer Projects (fold-out
map)

GOAL: Provide economically feasible and environmentally sensitive systems of

wastewater and sewage collection, conveyance and treatment to serve existing and
proposed development, as reflected by the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map and
discussed in the Long-Range Land Use Plan.

SEW-POLICY 1: Continue sewer system planning within the development area, so Should this be combined with SEW-
that the costs of system expansions and increases in system capacity will continue to be Policy 2?
borne by new development.
SA – No
SEW-POLICY 2: Ensure adequate sewer capacities needed to support planned growth SA – Delete dashes.
in the Development Area, in accordance with the densities, intensities and locations for
new development—as shown in the Long-Range Land Use Plan and Map and in a cost-
effective manner.

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. Revise the sewer plans for the County based on the Long-Range Land Use Plan This will need to be coordinated with
Map. An analysis—including but not limited to the following subjects—should be any changes to the Long-Range Land
incorporated into the Sewer Plan following adoption of each five-year update of Use Map

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the County’s Comprehensive Plan, in instances where Comprehensive Plan SA – Delete dashes. This strategy should
policies or Long-Range Land Use Plan designations or development densities are end with the first sentence. The SA is
amended and would have a direct impact upon existing sewer plans, or as part of chartered to support the Comprehensive
any required public facility review for sewer extension(s): Plan with public sewer in conformance
with the land use plan. The remainder of
• Potential shortfalls in utility capacities and proposed methods for addressing this text is normal business practice of the
identified shortfalls. service authority and is included in the
service authority CIP process.
• Identification of capital needs, based upon identified shortfalls in utility
capacities and identification of potential funding sources. This analysis should Alternative sewer systems that serve more
consider the relevancy of phased construction as a means to address capital than one lot conflict with the second
needs. paragraph of the intent of the sewer
chapter, although that paragraph cites the
• Analysis and recommendations regarding the provision of public service to Rural Area and this cites SRR area. If we
users of small private sewage treatment plants, alternative decentralized on-site do not want them in the Rural Area on 10
sewerage systems that serve more than one lot and on-site sewerage systems. acre lots, we should not entertain allowing
These facilities may already be existing or may occur in the future, in locations them in the SRR on smaller lots.
designated Semi-Rural Residential (SRR) on the Long-Range Land Use Plan
Map or in other locations, such as for certain public buildings and sites. HD – Change “alternative” to
“decentralized on-site” to be more clear
and to be relevant to current usage. Agree
that decentralized on-site systems serving
multiple lots should be discouraged based
on how the county has developed to date.
“Alternative systems” has been a floating
term that should only mean systems that
provide more treatment than a conventional
septic tank and drainfield. We should
cease using the term “alternative”.
2. Require existing structures, whose failed sewerage system (as determined by the Has the Health Department determined
Prince William County Health Department) has no on-site remediation and where additional areas or sites that would
the property line is located within 300 feet of a public sewer line with adequate require this?
capacity, to connect to such line.
SA – Not to the SA’s knowledge. The
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option to utilize an on-site remedy should

be discouraged if public sewer is within
300 feet. Another on-site facility would
only create another potential failure. The
cost of these extensions must be borne by
the homeowners or by the county via grants
or other financing options, the SA cannot
justify the cost of running sewer mains to
these areas to resolve on-site system
failures at the expense of our rate payers.

HD – Agree. In most cases where the

system has failed a replacement area was
not designated and the repair system cost
usually equals or exceeds the cost of the
sewer extension. The sewer extension
causes less disturbance than the repair.
3. Plan for adequate facility capacity allocations from the Upper Occoquan Sewage Has this been done?
Authority to meet projected needs for those portions of western Prince William
County that are included within the Development Area. SA – Yes, routine business practice of the
SA.
4. Expand the H. L. Mooney treatment plant to accommodate projected need as Has this plant been expanded and is
reflected by the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map. there any additional capacity or area for
expansion?

SA – Mooney is currently in a design/build

expansion to 24 mgd. It is authorized to
expand up to 32 mgd and can be with
retrofit technology.
5. Plan and coordinate with the Dale Service Corporation to prepare strategies to Has this been done?
accommodate projected needs within its service area, as reflected by the Long-
Range Land Use Plan Map.

6. Recognize that the Prince William County Service Authority and the Dale Service
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Corporation are the primary providers of sewage treatment to the County.

7. Design and plan for sewer facilities only in accordance with the densities, Is this reflected on the fold-out map?
intensities, and locations for new development in the Development Area that are
shown in the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map. SA – This is just a restatement of Sewer
Policy-2. Yes, the map reflects it but, the
sizing is only approximate and cannot be
determined until actual route survey and
topography is determined, slope as well as
diameter determines the carrying capacity
of a pipe.
8. Require all future development within the Development Area, as reflected by the Should we be planning for future
Long-Range Land Use Plan Map, to connect to public sewer facilities, except in connections in all of the SRR area?
those locations designated SRR, where on-site sewerage systems are also
permitted. SA – Absolutely, since it is in the
Development Area, it should be required at
the time of development. The primary
option should be the connection to public
sewer in all of the development area, with
the exception or waiver being on-site
sewerage systems. The proliferation of on-
site septic systems only creates a future
problem. The SA cannot justify the cost of
running sewer mains to these areas to
resolve on-site system failures at the
expense of our rate payers.

HD – Present ordinance requires a 100%

replacement area designated on the SRR lot
so that the two systems should serve the
residence for 35-75 years. Sewer does not
need to be planned for these areas except
on a very long-term basis.
9. Require new development in the Development Area to fund the capital costs SA – This is just a restatement of sewer
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associated with expanding sewer facilities, including line extensions and plant policy 1. All new development regardless
capacity expansions in coordination with the Prince William County Service of location must fund the capital cost
Authority and in conjunction with the Long-Range Land Use Plan. associated with expanding sewer facilities
required to serve that development.
10. Evaluate the existing Design and Construction Standards Manual standards for Have we done this?
average daily wastewater flow by land use type at least every five years.
SA – The flow rates are still valid for
design, however, a flow rate for the urban
residential areas should be established due
to the high densities planned in these areas.
11. Monitor failures, as determined by the Health Department, to existing on-site Has the Health Department determined
sewerage systems, to determine the need for future extension of public sewer areas or sites that need this?
facilities within the Development Area. Such future extension, however, is not to
be seen as a reason for an increase in residential densities above those specified on SA – The cost of these extensions must be
the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map. borne by the homeowners or by the county
via grants or other financing options. The
SA cannot justify the cost of running sewer
mains to these areas to resolve on-site
system failures at the expense of our rate
payers.

HD – A working group should be

established to identify areas where lots do
not have repair areas and low density sewer
may be needed for on-site system
replacement. All on-site system
replacements must connect to the sewer to
lower the per dwelling cost of such
extensions. An innovative funding plan is
needed so that property owners could begin
paying into a long-term fund to pay for the
extension over the years before it is
needed.
12. Prepare a standard policy and regulations to require existing and future Has this been done?
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development to install appropriate pre-treatment facilities, in accordance with the

Prince William County Service Authority or Upper Occoquan Sewer Authority SA – Isn’t this in the county sewer
Pretreatment Regulations or Policies, and to connect to public sewer facilities if ordinance? Delete dashes.
such development is—or promotes—a health hazard.

13. Maintain an inventory of local systems—small private sewage treatment plants, SA – Delete dashes.
alternative sewerage systems, and on-site sewerage systems—throughout the
County.

14. Focus future publicly funded capital improvement programs for sewer facility SA – Not needed.
expansion projects into the Development Area, as reflected by the Long-Range
Land Use Plan Map.

15. Prohibit the use of privately owned and privately operated treatment plants for Is this a current regulation?
new development projects.
SA – The Occoquan policy limits the
number of treatment plants in the
Occoquan basin. We have spent thirty
years and millions of dollars removing
these small systems in Prince William
County, we should not add new problems.

HD –agree with the SA. These small

community treatment plants do not have
an economy of scale or a reliable funding
plan to avoid the very large capital costs of
operation, maintenance, and future
replacement.
16. Utilize the fold-out Prince William County Comprehensive Plan Proposed Sewer SA – The Community Design Plan does
Projects map to identify the general or approximate location, character, and extent not address water and sewer and should not
of the features shown thereon. Such features shall be planned, sited, and buffered be referenced here. The sizing on the map
to provide compatibility with surrounding existing and planned land uses, and is only approximate and final sizing can not
shall meet the appropriate policies and action strategies of the Community Design be determined until actual route survey and
Plan and the Long-Range Land Use Plan. topography is determined, slope as well as
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diameter determines the carrying capacity

of a pipe
17. Continue to Uupdate local sewer ordinances and pretreatment regulations and/or Haven’t we been doing this with DCSM
policies, as appropriate. updates?

SEWER POLICY 3: Prohibit the extension of public sewer into the Rural Area,
except under special circumstances that maintain the land use densities delineated in the
Long-Range Land Use Plan Map and uphold the policies and action strategies outlined
in the Comprehensive Plan.

ACTION STRATEGIES:

1. All new development within the Rural Area shall be served by individual-lot, on- SA – Use commas rather than dashes. The
site sewerage systems. Public sewer systems—except under the special proliferation of on-site septic systems only
circumstances that are outlined in the action strategies contained herein, and as creates a future problem. If the land use
specifically permitted under the action strategies in the Nokesville Sector Plan for plan is adhered to strictly, public sewer
the “core area” identified in that sector plan—shall not be extended into the Rural becomes an economic issue a developer or
Area. homeowner must address, and conforms to
the Sewer Policy 2, AS-7, and Sewer
Policy 3, AS-11 and 12.

HD – Most lots permitted for an onsite

system since 1989 have a 100 replacement
area designated for repair needs. We
would only want to consider sewer
extensions into the Rural area if it can be
assured that the properties served will
remain at current low densities.

2. Support a 100-percent reserve requirement for all drainfields—or equivalent Isn’t this a current regulation?
mechanisms for achieving the same goal, regardless of percolation rate—for all
developments in the County that are not developed with public sewer. HD – Correct- this is a local ordinance.
Exceptions only for lots recorded prior to
1989. May want to delete this strategy.
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3. Develop, adopt, implement, and enforce a periodic waste disposal system Are we doing this?
maintenance reporting septic tank pump-out and reporting program in order to
ensure proper waste disposal. HD – A listing of septic systems and when
they were last pumped is in place and is
posted on the County website under the
health district. Change “waste disposal
system” to ‘Septic tank pump-out program”
or delete strategy.

4. Encourage the Prince William County Health District to permit the use of Does the Health Department permit
individual-site alternative sewerage systems that do not require surface water this?
discharge.
SA – Most of the on-site alternative
systems do not discharge into surface
waters.

HD – Discharges are not allowed for new

homes in the Occoquan watershed. They
are allowed for existing homes in any
watershed when the on-site system cannot
be repaired on the property and public
sewer is not available. Please consider
elimination of this strategy.
5. Develop a Wellhead Protection Program and Groundwater Recharge Zone Have we done this?
Protection Program—utilizing procedural guidelines and information available
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Groundwater SA - Delete dashes. There are already
Protection Steering Committee—to protect or improve the groundwater quality and State requirements for separation of wells
prevent well contamination from faulty or improperly located private waste and septic system drainfields. This strategy
disposal systems. is already in the Potable Water chapter, but
probably should be in the Environment
chapter.

HD – This has only been done for small

public water supply wells serving 25 or
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more persons.
6. To serve a public facility—such as a school, fire station, or library—allow for the
extension of public sewer into the Rural Area.

7. Within the Rural Area, permit the voluntary use of public sewer systems in a SA - This should include existing vacant
subwatershed that has a documented history of sewerage system failures, as lots in the sub-watershed, so long as they
determined by the Health Department. are not subdivided to less than sizes
permitted by the land use plan, and
participate in the cost of the sewer system.

HD – Existing homes using septic systems

should not have to wait for system failure
before being allowed to connect to public
sewer at allowable densities. A much
higher level of treatment is usually
provided by public sewer over a
conventional septic system.
8. Require existing structures whose failed sewerage systems have no on-site Redundant with SEW-Policy 1 & 2
remediation—and where the property line is located within 300 feet of a public Action Strategy 2
sewer line with adequate capacity—to connect to such line.
SA - Delete dashes. Not in Sewer Policy-
1. The option to utilize an on-site remedy
should be discouraged if public sewer is
within 300 feet. Another on-site facility
would only create another potential failure.
9. Permit existing structures whose property line is within 1,000 feet of a sewer line SA – This should include existing vacant
extended into the Rural Area under the conditions of AS-6, AS-7, or AS-8 above to lots in the sub-watershed, so long as they
connect to the line, if there is adequate capacity on that line. are not subdivided to less than sizes
permitted by the land use plan, and
participate in the cost of the sewer system.

HD - Agree with SA
10. Where appropriate, the Prince William County Service Authority will make SA – This should include existing vacant
reasonable efforts to accommodate existing structures along the length of proposed lots in the sub-watershed, so long as they
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sewer lines; however, no guarantee of service will be made and no increase in are not subdivided to less than sizes
capacity beyond that shown on the Long-Range Land Use Plan Map shall be permitted by the land use plan, and
provided. participate in the cost of the sewer system.

11. The existence or extension of a public sewer system to serve a site shall not SA – Combine action strategy 11 and 12
promote increased densities that would not otherwise be allowed given the
application of the various chapters of the Comprehensive Plan and relevant
compatibility issues.

12. The existence or extension of a public sewer system in the Rural Area shall not SA - Combine action strategy 11 and 12
provide justification for altering the land use classifications on the Long-Range
Land Use Plan Map.

13. Where a sector plan or planning study recommended in the Long-Range Land Use SA - The extension and connection policy
Plan and approved by the Board of County Supervisors calls for extension of public of any such plan or study should be
sewer into the Rural Area, permit such extension, so long as such action is carefully planned to create a sustainable
consistent with the remainder of the Comprehensive Plan. utility system that is capable of serving the
community, subject to the plan. Properties
on both sides of a street should be able to
receive service from a sewer line run in the
street; likewise both sides of a drainage
basin. The full extent of a sub-shed with
failing on site septic systems should be
determined so that the public sewer system
to remedy the problem is adequate to solve
the whole problem, even if done in phases,
without the expense of paralleling mains in
the future. Pockets without service should
not be created within the community.

HD - Agree with SA
14. The cost of any extensions/connections of/to a public system must be borne by the SA - This strategy does not mention failing
property owners connecting to the system. on-site sewerage systems. Does that mean
that it only applies to schools, libraries, fire
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stations and other public buildings? If not,

it conflicts with other Policy-3 strategies
since it implies no limitation on what
property can be served. The strategy is
redundant with Sewer Policy 2, AS-9.
Consider combining 14 and 15 or deleting
14.
15. Investigate the feasibility of obtaining grant funds for use by the County for sewer SA - The cost of these extensions must be
extension to areas with a high potential for on-site waste disposal system failure. borne by the homeowners or by the county
via grants or other financing options. The
SA cannot justify the cost of running sewer
mains to these areas to resolve on-site
system failures at the expense of our rate
payers. Consider combining 14 and 15.
16. Permit sewer extensions to areas of historical significance in the rural area to allow SA - This appears inconsistent with the
for the continued preservation of historic buildings and sites and to allow for previous parts of Sewer Policy-3. This
expanded public use or new infill development that is in keeping with the historic extension strategy would permit new infill
character of the area. development while previous action has
denied even existing vacant lots in problem
areas to connect which should be likewise
viewed as infill development.
SEWER CHAPTER PLAN MAPS SP – updated to 2030

The Prince William County Comprehensive Plan Proposed Sewer Project Map that SA - Size ranges are for proposed pipes
illustrates this plan reflects existing sewer facilities and proposed facility improvements. only, but the sizing is only approximate
The data shown on the map includes the range of pipe sizes already existing or planned and cannot be determined until actual route
by the Service Authority for that particular system or area. survey and topography is determined.
Slope as well as diameter determines the
carrying capacity of a pipe.

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