Fairfax Water, Virginia 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Alert

Fairfax Water’s latest Capital Improvement Plan shows a materially larger capital program than its prior plan, reflecting both long-cycle asset renewal and major new compliance-driven treatment work. The 2026-2035 CIP totals $1.6 billion, compared with $1.0 billion in the 2023-2032 CIP.

Using distinct projects from the CIP project sheets, the current plan includes 117 projects versus 98 previously, while average project size increased from $10.4 million to $14.1 million.

How did Fairfax Water’s capital spending change between the last two CIPs?

The current plan is larger on both total dollars and distinct projects, with overall planned spending rising by $626.7 million. The most important shift is that Fairfax Water’s capital plan now pairs core renewal programs with a large new PFAS treatment investment at Griffith.

Which departments and business areas saw the largest changes in Fairfax Water’s CIP?

This table includes only the five highest-valued business areas that appear in both CIPs. Among those comparable areas, the largest increase is in Additions, Extensions, And Betterments.

What are the largest projects in Fairfax Water’s CIP?

Fairfax Water’s 2026-2035 CIP includes several high-value projects and long-running programs that shape the utility’s near-term market opportunities.

• Distribution System Sustainability Program — $381.1 million (Extraordinary Maintenance And Repairs) Systematic replacement of failing water mains.
• Griffith Pfas Treatment — $356.5 million (Additions, Extensions, And Betterments) This covers the design and installation of treatment processes to remove Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) for the Occoquan supply.
• General & Administrative – Part B — $218.6 million (General & Administrative) Annual expenses attributed to administration and overhead, including salaries, fringe benefits and other expenses.
• Major Repairs – Distribution Meters 2-Inch And Smaller — $56.2 million (Extraordinary Maintenance And Repairs) Expenses attributed to the replacement of small retail meters. Current expenditures include a comprehensive staged replacement program for old, high consumption, or deficient meters identified by the Meter Management Report.
• Major Repairs – Treatment Facilities — $40.5 million (Extraordinary Maintenance And Repairs) Expenses attributed to preventive maintenance, equipment replacement, repairs, and maintenance of sufficient spare parts. Current expenditures for the Griffith treatment facilities include repair and replacement of filter media and underdrains, and inspection and replacement of the baffle curtains in the clearwells. Stage two electrical system replacements and upgrades are planned at Corbalis.

How is Fairfax Water’s CIP governed and approved?

Fairfax Water develops its capital program through utility planning, engineering, operations, and management review, then advances the plan through board-level budgeting and approval processes. For AEC and infrastructure firms, that means opportunities often emerge across treatment, conveyance, maintenance, metering, and long-range compliance-related upgrades rather than in just one department.

What is the history of Fairfax Water and its infrastructure investment context?

Fairfax Water is the public water utility serving much of Northern Virginia, including large parts of Fairfax County and nearby service areas. Its infrastructure footprint spans treatment, pumping, storage, transmission, and distribution systems that support one of the largest suburban water service territories in the Washington region.

What are a few fun facts about Fairfax Water?

• Fairfax Water is the largest drinking water utility in Virginia and serves about 2 million people in Northern Virginia.
• The utility draws and treats water from two major regional sources: the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir.
• Fairfax Water was created in 1957 and has grown into one of the region’s core public utilities supporting homes, businesses, and institutions.