wi nter
Did You Know?
In This Issue:
Did You Know?
Winter-Proof Your Home Annual Report Available
Water-Saving Tip #29
Holiday Schedule 20 0 8/ 2 009
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Did you know the average American family
turns on the tap between 70 and 100 times
each day? But you may not know much
about water in our world or the water that
comes out of the tap.
How many of these facts about water do you
know?
•
About 70 percent of the earth’s
surface is covered with water. Ninety-seven
percent of the water on the earth is salt
water. Two percent of the water on earth is
glacier ice at the North and South Poles. Less
than 1 percent of all the water on earth is
fresh water that we can actually use.
•
Fairfax Water was established over 50 years ago and now provides water
to 1.5 million people. That’s one in every five
Virginians using public water.
•
Our raw water sources are the
Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir. Water from these two sources is treated at
the James J. Corbalis, Jr. Treatment Plant
in Herndon and the Frederick P. Griffith, Jr.
Treatment Plant in Lorton.
•
Fairfax Water has the lowest
commodity rates in the region and is one
of only a handful of water utilities to earn a
AAA bond rating from the top three rating
agencies.
•
Our average daily water production
is 167 million gallons per day – more than
two and a half billion eight-ounce glasses of
water.
•
Our total treatment capacity is 345
million gallons per day. On our busiest day,
we could fill more than 575 Olympic-size
swimming pools.
•
Fairfax Water has 3,245 miles of
water main in service. Laid end to end, our
water mains would stretch past California.
•
We own and maintain 22, 978 fire
hydrants - about 58 hydrants for every
square mile of Fairfax County.
•
Since 1957 the cost for a gallon of
milk has increased from 55 cents to $3.50,
while the cost for a gallon of water has
increased from .00006 cents to .0017 cents
per gallon.
•
An estimated 1.1 billion people
worldwide do not have access to safe water
and almost 6,000 people around the world
die from water-related illness every day.
For more information and educational
resources, visit our Web site at www.
fairfaxwater.org.r
who don’t have access to safe drinking
water.
Winter-Proof Your Home
Editor’s Note
If you have comments or
suggestions about this publication,
please e-mail us at
[email protected], call us at
703-698-5600 or write to the
address below.
From the Tap Editor
Fairfax Water
8570 Executive Park Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22031
www.fairfaxwater.org
Important Numbers
Fairfax Water Services
Questions about water service:
703-698-5800
After-hours water emergencies:
703-698-5613
Questions about billing:
703-698-5800
All other Fairfax Water departments:
703-698-5600
Fairfax County Services
24-Hour trouble response center for
sewer back-ups or sluggish flow in a
sink, toilet, or tub:
703-323-1211
Sanitary sewer billing information:
703-324-5015
Sanitary sewer back-ups and line
maintenance:
703-250-2003
Dig with C.A.R.E. – Miss Utility at 811
or 1-800-552-7001
Use TTY 711 (Virginia Relay) for all
numbers unless otherwise stated.
As you stock up on hot chocolate and firewood to weather the cold, don’t forget to
winter-proof your home. Make sure you know where the valves are for your outside
spigots. This will allow you to easily turn off the water to the outside spigots when
the weather turns too cold for outside activities. Drain outdoor spigots after turning
off the valve to prevent freezing pipes. Locate and mark your main-line valve and
check it for proper
operation. Marking the
valve will allow
you to quickly turn off
the water in an
emergency. Water lines
exposed to freezing
air should be insulated
and wrapped in
heat tape. Keep your
thermostat at a
reasonable temperature
when you are away
from home to keep pipes
from freezing. Turn
off the main water supply
and drain the plumbing if you cannot maintain the heat in your home. And never try to
thaw frozen pipes with an open flame or torch. If you suspect you have a frozen water
meter, you can call us for help 24 hours a day. Call the Customer Service Department at
703-698-5800, TTY 711 during normal business hours. After normal business hours, the
emergency number is 703-698-5613, TTY 711.
Fairfax Water 2008
Annual Report Available
The Fairfax Water 2008 Annual Report is
now available in print and on the Web. To
request a print copy, please call
703-289-6019, TTY 711 or send an
e-mail to [email protected]. To see the
report online, visit www.fairfaxwater.org.
Annual Report 2008
Winter Holiday Schedule
Water-Saving
Tip #29
Plug the bathtub before turning
the water on, and then adjust
the temperature as the tub fills
up.
Fairfax Water offices will be closed for the following
holidays:
Christmas Holiday – Noon, Wednesday, Dec. 24
through Friday, Dec. 26
New Year’s Day –Thursday, Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, Jan. 19
Inauguration Day – Tuesday, Jan. 20
Presidents’ Day – Monday, Feb. 16
If you need to reach Fairfax Water to report an
emergency, please call 703-698-5613, TTY 711 for
assistance.