VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER

Revision to Waterworks Operation Fees (12VAC5-600-50), Effective July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

Purpose of notice and background information:  The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is providing notice to all community waterworks of the change in the fee for each service connection from $2.95 to $3.00 under Acts 2021, c.552 and 12VAC5-600-50.

12VAC5-600-50 A states that the fee for each fiscal year for community waterworks is the number of customer accounts multiplied by no more than $3.00 and that the annual waterworks operation fee shall not exceed $160,000.  Acts 2021, c. 552, at Item 304 B, states that the “fee schedule for charges to community waterworks shall be adjusted to the level necessary to cover the cost of operating the Waterworks Technical Assistance Program, consistent with § 32.1-171.1, Code of Virginia, and shall not exceed $3.00 per connection to all community waterworks.” 

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, ODW will bill waterworks $3.00 per customer account (or service connection).  This represents an increase of $0.05 per customer account over the fee for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2020.  

The revised fees are exempt from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act.  The Budget of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Chapter 552, approved April 7, 2021) in Part I, Item 304, at B allows ODW to adjust the fee up to, but not above $3.00 to cover the cost of operating the Waterworks Technical Assistance Program.

The Department of Health is not accepting public comment on the fee increase.