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County Home  • Jobs  • Payments  • Services A-Z    Translate

Water & Utilities

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Rates

Water, Sewer and Refuse Rates

  • Water Rate: $4.91 per 1,000 gallons of metered water consumption (effective 7/1/2020).
  • Sewer Rate: $9.29 per 1,000 gallons of metered water consumption (effective 7/1/2020).
  • Refuse Rate (residential accounts only): $319.03 annually, billed quarterly and prorated on a daily basis.
  • The rate for activating new water service accounts or reactivation of service due to repair or delinquency is $25.

Billing Schedule

Residential

  • Single-family and duplex homes are billed quarterly for water, sewer, and trash and recycling services.
  • Water and sewer charges are based on water consumption as determined by a meter reading. You must keep the water meter free of obstruction by cars, landscaping or other objects.
  • Your bill may also include charges for service requests such as additional carts, special pickup or leaf mulch/wood chip delivery.

Apartments and Commercial

  • Apartments and commercial businesses are billed monthly for water and sewer services.
  • Water and sewer charges are based on water consumption as determined by a monthly meter reading. Only County staff is authorized to enter meter vaults.

Rate Structure

Rates for water and sewer services are based directly on the number of gallons of water used.

Rate Example

If a residential family uses 15,000 gallons of water in a quarter (which is typical), they would be charged for 15,000 gallons at the current water rate plus 15,000 gallons at the current sewer rate. These charges are detailed on the billing statement.

Water usage is measured by a water meter installed adjacent to each residence or business. Sanitary sewer services are charged based on the amount of water used as determined by the water meter readings. We don’t measure sanitary sewer usage as sewer meters are costly, and prone to malfunctions and inaccurate readings.

You can set up a separate water-only account for irrigation. Call 703-228-5000 Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss options with a customer service representative.

Water/Sewer Rate Study

In 2019, Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) commenced a Water and Wastewater Utility Cost of Service and Rate Design Study. The study, to conclude in early 2020, will help ensure that sufficient revenues are recovered through our rates and that our rate and fee structures are aligned with the County’s financial objectives and the community’s values.

County staff conducted a water/sewer rate study in 2003, working with both a consultant and a resident task force appointed by the County Manager to review the study and make recommendations. The resident task force recommended retaining the current rate structure, which is based directly on water volume consumption. They recommended against giving relief on sewer charges for irrigation water for the following reasons:

  • The current rate is easy to understand and easy to administer.
  • Only a few very high-use residential customers would significantly benefit from a summer sewer rate that removes sewer charges for irrigation water.
  • Giving rate relief for irrigation is contrary to water conservation and promotes increased pollutants in local streams, the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.
  • An alternative, while costly, exists — the water-only account, which provides a second water service and meter exclusively for outdoor use separate from the existing domestic line.

As a result of the study, the County Manager did not recommend any changes in rate structure to the County Board.

Contact Us

View or Pay My Bill

Customer Contact Center
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
703-228-5000
Email

Pay Your Bill by Phone
1-888-272-9829 (Code 1000)
Mail and Online Payment Options

Water & Sewer Emergencies
703-228-6555 (24-hour hotline)

Report Stream Pollution, Spills or Illegal Dumping
703-558-2222

Non-County Utilities

Power Outages or Downed Power Lines
Dominion Virginia Power at 866-DOM-HELP (866-366-4357)

Gas Emergencies
Call 911, then Washington Gas at 703-750-1400

Verizon
1-800-837-4966 or Verizon Online

Comcast
1-800-266-2279

Contáctenos

Centro de atención al cliente
Horario: de lunes a viernes, de 8 a. m. a 5 p. m. al
703-228-6570
Correo electrónico

Abone su factura por teléfono
1-888-272-9829 (Code 1000)
Opciones de pago por correo o Internet

Emergencias de agua o cloacas
703-228-6555 (línea directa las 24 horas)

Informar contaminación de cursos de agua, derrames o vertido ilegal
703-558-2222

Utilidades fuera del condado

Cortes del servicio eléctrico o líneas fuera de servicio
Dominion Virginia Power al 866-DOM-HELP (866-366-4357)

Emergencias de gas
Llame al 911, luego a Washington Gas al 703-750-1400

Verizon
1-800-837-4966 o Internet

Comcast
1-800-266-2279

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