MOTION: September 15, 2026
Regular Meeting
SECOND: Res. No. 26-
RE: Reaffirm Commitment to Protect the Occoquan Reservoir and Oppose Diversions from the Occoquan Watershed for Consumptive Reuse
ACTION:
WHEREAS, Fairfax Water supplies over 2.2 million people in Northern Virginia with safe drinking water, and the Prince William County Service Authority d/b/a Prince William Water (Prince William Water) provides high-quality drinking water, primarily purchased from Fairfax Water, to more than 380,000 people in Prince William County, which includes the towns of Occoquan, Haymarket and Dumfries, and to the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park; and
WHEREAS, the Occoquan Reservoir is one of Fairfax Water’s two key drinking water sources and a primary source of drinking water for the eastern portions of Prince William County and Fairfax County; and
WHEREAS, the Occoquan Reservoir’s indirect potable reuse system has been recognized nationally and internationally as an extremely successful model for drinking-water reliability, relying on advanced treatment and the return of high-quality treated wastewater from the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA), a regional authority of Fairfax County, Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park; and
WHEREAS, UOSA effluent routinely accounts for a significant portion of inflow to the Occoquan Reservoir and up to 90 percent of all inflows during drought conditions, and those return flows are necessary for Fairfax Water’s Griffith Water Treatment Plant to operate at its constructed capacity, making the reservoir, UOSA return flows, Fairfax Water, and Prince William Water part of an interconnected regional water supply and reuse system; and
WHEREAS, the Occoquan Policy, codified at 9VAC25-410, was adopted in 1971 to protect the region’s drinking-water supply, and on June 5, 1978, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the concept of an intervening reuse of UOSA effluent only if such reuse is subject to protections including non-consumptive purposes, return of the water to the reservoir, and water quality equal to or better than UOSA effluent quality; and
WHEREAS, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has a long and consistent history of protecting the Occoquan Watershed and Occoquan Reservoir, including, for example, implementation of countywide non-point source regulations, erosion controls, and Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area protections to filter pollutants before they reach local tributaries such as Bull Run and Broad Run; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, with the adoption of the Pathway to 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the Board created the Occoquan Reservoir Protection Area, intended to enhance the protection of the Occoquan Reservoir, on approximately 10,744 acres in MidCounty; and
WHEREAS, as recently as 2026, the Board continues to reaffirm its commitment to protect the Occoquan Reservoir by directing staff to formulate specific development guidelines, zoning standards and other enhanced protections for the acres now comprising the Occoquan Reservoir Protection Area; and
WHEREAS, with the adoption of the FY2027-FY2034 Capital Improvement Program, the Board committed to long-term County watershed capital projects that include stream restoration, stormwater management facility retrofits, culvert modifications, channel improvements, and drainage improvements within countywide watersheds to protect and improve water quality, reduce flooding, reduce erosion, and improve stormwater drainage; and
WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Board that certain UOSA and City of Manassas representatives have expressed renewed interest in diverting wastewater or treated effluent that would otherwise be returned through UOSA to Bull Run and ultimately to the Occoquan Reservoir for consumptive reuse, which could reduce return flows that support the region’s drinking-water supply; and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2026, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its opposition to such diversions unless specified protections are met, and on July 9, 2026, the Prince William Water Board of Directors likewise opposed diversions of UOSA effluent for consumptive reuse and urged regional cooperation to protect the continuous safe yield of the reservoir, including during drought conditions and public emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors recognizes that stewardship of the Occoquan Reservoir and Watershed requires cooperation among the Commonwealth, local jurisdictions, UOSA, Fairfax Water, Prince William Water, and other affected stakeholders;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors hereby reaffirms its commitment to protect the Occoquan Reservoir and opposes the diversion of UOSA effluent for consumptive reuse when such diversion would permanently remove water from the Occoquan Watershed and diminish return flows that support the region’s drinking-water supply;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if an intervening reuse of UOSA effluent is considered, the Board supports such reuse only where safeguards ensure that:
(1) the use is non-consumptive;
(2) the water is returned to the Occoquan River or one of its tributaries and ultimately to the Occoquan Reservoir;
(3) the returned water quality is equal to or better than UOSA effluent quality, with appropriate standards addressing characteristics such as temperature, salinity, and PFAS;
(4) Fairfax Water, Prince William Water, UOSA, and affected member jurisdictions are afforded an opportunity to review and concur in any agreement between UOSA and any user of UOSA effluent before execution; and
(5) the continuous safe yield of the Occoquan Reservoir is protected for existing and future communities, including during drought conditions and public emergencies;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board urges all affected jurisdictions, utilities, state departments/agencies/offices, and policy bodies to collaborate in protecting the Occoquan Reservoir, the Occoquan Watershed, and the regional source-water system on which Northern Virginia residents and businesses depend; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board directs the Clerk to the Board or her designee to provide a copy of this Resolution to the Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (Attn: County Executive), Prince William Water Board of Directors (Attn: General Manager), Fairfax Water Board of Directors (Attn: Interim General Manager), Upper Occoquan Service Authority Board of Directors (Attn: Chief Executive Officer), City of Manassas Mayor and City Council (Attn: City Manager), and City of Manassas Park Mayor and City Council (Attn: City Manager).
For Information:
Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Prince William Water Board of Directors
Fairfax County, Board of Supervisors
Fairfax Water, Board of Directors
Upper Occoquan Service Authority, Board of Directors
Prince William Water wholesale customers: The City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park
ATTEST:___________________________________________________________________
Clerk to the Board