Don't Look for Lower Water Rates Any Time Soon

Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting. Mark Twain as quoted by Mason District  Supervisor Penny Gross.

McLean neighbors shouldn't look for lower water bills anytime soon.

Two weeks ago Dranesville Supervisor John Foust heralded a county Consumer Protection Commission report that recommended that the county exert it's right to set water rates for its residents --- even those residents who are customers of the Falls Church water district.

Last week, Foust joined four of his fellow supervisors in a motion to have the consumer affairs recommendations adopted and to ask the county staff to figure out how to implement the recommendations.

Fairfax County water rates are lower than Falls Church rates and Falls Church just raised its rates. McLean residents have been mighty unhappy about this.

"It is time to resolve these rates these inequities that have existed for much too long,” Foust said.

That's when what appeared to be a simple  motion at the Board of Supervisors meeting got very complicated.

Other supervisors noted that Falls Church would not be the only water system affected. Braddock Supervisor John Cook explained that new building at George Mason University would be affected because the university received water from neighboring Fairfax City.

"Fairfax city water cannot survive without County customers," Cook said.

Supervisor Gross said potential developers of the new city of Tysons Corner were concerned about what a water change would make to their future developments. Currently Tysons Corner would be served by Falls Church but the county report recommended that Fairfax Water serve Tysons.

At one point Supervisor Michael Frey noted that there were two issues on the table: the difference in rates and the reports call that for the county to supply water to all new projects in the county.

So it went for nearly an hour. Finally the board voted unanimously to ask the county staff to consult with "all the stakeholders" and bring back a recommendation on how to implement the recommendations that would apply to all Fairfax County residents who now do not get their water service from Fairfax County water.

The board planned on a public hearing on the recommendations perhaps in early December.

Foust said later that he hoped during this period that Fairfax and Falls Church could find a way to end the dispute."I believe Fairfax Water is still committed to trying to reach a resolution with Falls Church Water, such as a merger of the systems, that would result in a final and fair resolution of the water issues," Foust said.

Stay tuned.

Background: Sept. 22: A Fairfax County government agency Wednesday that the Board of Supervisors regulate rates for the City of Falls Church water customers who are  McLean and Fairfax residents so that they do not pay rates higher than those charged by Fairfax water, unless Falls Church can justify the higher rates.

The Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission also recommended that Fairfax County provide water to upcoming new developments in Tysons Corner. Tysons Corner will evolve into a medium-size city and double its current population in the next several decades.

Ninety percent of Falls Church water customers live in Fairfax County.