Alexandria Renew Invites Public to Discuss Water Rates, Open House April 28

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) is hosting an Open House on Sunday, April 28 from 3-5 PM at its Environmental Center, 1800 Limerick St, Alexandria, VA 22314, to provide an opportunity to learn more about the need for investment in the health of our waterways.

AlexRenew is proposing rate increases for the next two fiscal years, starting July 1, 2019 and July 1, 2020, respectively, to help fund its RiverRenew program and to cover normal costs associated with the operation of AlexRenew’s existing facilities. The average residential customer will see an increase of approximately $55 per year in their bills (a total of $110 over two years), or just under $5 per month for an average homeowner each year.  This represents 13% and 11% increases, respectively, for residential customers; commercial customers will also see the same percentage increases on their sewer bills.

As the wastewater agency for Alexandria and portions of Fairfax County for 62 years, AlexRenew funds its operations and infrastructure improvements through wastewater bills and direct payments by Fairfax County. The proposed rate increases will fund the loans needed for the RiverRenew program, upgrades to AlexRenew’s water resource recovery facility, and for continued management and maintenance of AlexRenew’s facilities.  AlexRenew is implementing its RiverRenew program to comply with a new Virginia law that requires the City of Alexandria to remediate all four of its combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025. The current system was designed in the 1800s and releases a mixture of both sewage and rainwater into the Potomac River, its tributary streams, and Alexandria’s waterfront when the capacity of the combined sewer pipes is exceeded during rain events.

For any questions, contact [email protected], or call (703) 518-6030.

About Alexandria Renew Enterprises

Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew) is one of the most advanced water resource recovery facilities in the world, serving 320,000 people in Alexandria and parts of Fairfax County, and treating 35 million gallons of water each day. AlexRenew was established in 1952 with the chartered mission to clean wastewater and protect public health and the environment. Since operations began in 1956, it has worked every day to improve the lives and welfare of its customers and local waterways. AlexRenew has built the first reclaimed water supply pipe in Alexandria, reusing 1.4 billion gallons of water on site to support plant processes and saving almost $3 million in purchased drinking water expenses and preventing nutrients from going back into the Chesapeake Bay.