Northern Virginia homeowners will flush away more money this year, as counties across the region are poised to raise sewage rates to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards — and fill depleted coffers.
Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties are proposing higher sewage rates next budget year, some to pay off debts for modernized wastewater plants and others to install nitrogen removal equipment.
As part of the Chesapeake Bay Program, Virginia pledge to reduce 3.39 million pounds of nitrogen by the end of 2011.
Under the proposed increases, the average yearly sewage bills would rise $58 in Fairfax County, $44 in Loudoun County and $32 in Arlington County.
“It’s nice to see others catching up on this,” said Elizabeth Craig of Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services.
The county’s sewage rates in recent years have been higher than neighboring areas thanks to earlier pushes for nitrogen removal equipment, she said.
The various plans must make it through their respective budget processes, which could rile residents expected to face a bevy of new fees and service cuts.
“Just add it to the list,” bemoaned Fairfax County’s Bill Jones after learning of the possible sewage increase later this year. “It makes you wonder — what’s next?”
Virginia is responsible for more than a quarter of all nitrogen in the Chesapeake watershed, according to figures compiled for the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Arlington County would charge $8.24 per 1,000 gallons of use, Fairfax County, $5.27 per 1,000 gallons and Loudoun County, $3.14 per 1,000 gallons.
Proposed sewage rate increases
County Average yearly sewage bill Anticipated fiscal 2011 sewage bill
Arlington County $545 $577
Fairfax County $362 $420
Loudoun County $307 $351
