Environmental Management

The Board of County Supervisors established a Storm Water Management Program on March 15, 1994. This program is responsible for effectively managing the County's stormwater management system by:

• Protecting streams and wetlands
• Reducing non-point source pollution loads
• Monitoring water quality
• Protecting properties and the public from flooding

These activities will help safeguard the water quality in County streams and control the pollution into our streams that eventually flow to the Chesapeake Bay. When Congress passed the Clean Water Act, the federal government demonstrated its dedication to improving and protecting our nation's waters. Prince William County is also committed to these goals.

The County is subject to federal and Virginia laws. The federal and Virginia governments require Prince William County to meet stringent, yet unfunded, regulations on stormwater management, water quality controls, watershed protection, and wetland preservation. These regulations are part of the Clean Water Act, which helps maintain water quality in County streams and reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Focusing Efforts to Protect Our Water 

The stormwater management program addresses four major tasks: drainage, water quality, erosion and pollution control, and flooding. With these tasks in mind the County has begun efforts to improve or repair drainage facilities. Staff monitor and restore streams. Stricter erosion control of development projects is enforced. County staff take aggressive approaches to eliminate sources of pollution and to educate the public about pollution prevention. The community has an elaborate system of drains, pipes, and culverts to help control storm water runoff.

Learn more about those systems. There are also storm water management ponds located throughout the County to help control storm water runoff.

You can learn about pollution prevention through programs offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension at /department/virginia-cooperative-extension or the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District at http://www.pwswcd.org/.

A Fair and Equitable Source of Funding

Funding for stormwater-related activities is necessary to meet stringent regulations and fulfill local needs provided by stormwater management systems.

• Residential and nonresidential owners of developed property pay based on the amount of impervious area (rooftops paved areas etc.) on their property. Impervious areas contribute to an increase in stormwater runoff that adds to our drainage requirements for flood control and water protection.
• Residents will pay their fee on the bi-annual real estate bill. This means the total annual fee is split between the two bills.
  • $52.26 total annual fee for detached single-family homes
  • $39.20 total annual fee for townhome and condominium owners

• Nonresidential property owners will pay a total annual fee of $52.26 per 2,059 square feet of impervious area. Fee adjustments or credits may be available if a stormwater management system is already in place. This fee is billed on the bi-annual real estate bills.
• Owners of agricultural croplands and undeveloped properties are not charged a fee. Agricultural properties are currently required to develop water quality plans and resource conservation plans in order to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and the Farm Bill.

Fulfilling Local Needs and Protection

Funding for the storm water management program will help ensure local requirements are being met. Local needs include maintaining and repairing drainage systems constructing capital improvements to minimize flood hazards and non-point source pollution and completing watershed management plans for the 32 sub-watersheds in the County.

Revenue from the stormwater management fee is dedicated solely to the operation and construction of comprehensive watershed management projects. This ensures we can meet both the Federal and Virginia requirements and fulfill local needs.

Services to Prince William County include:

• Improve ditch and drainage easement maintenance
• Repair and/or replace drainage facilities
• Enhance water quality in local streams and rivers and reduce illicit discharges
• Gain better control of pollution into the Chesapeake Bay
• Maintain storm water retention ponds
• Comply with federal storm water permitting
• Construct watershed management improvements
• Increase support to stream restoration projects
• Retrofit older developed properties for pollution control
• Protect wetlands
• Increase enforcement of erosion and sediment control regulations