UOSA briefing: regional wastewater authority finds latent nutrient-removal capacity, outlines cost-allocation changes
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Summary
Upper Occoquan Service Authority told the Manassas Park council it found latent nutrient-removal capacity and plans smaller capital projects (estimated $50–$60 million) and service-agreement changes to reallocate capacity and improve cost equity; staff said capital costs are allocated by ownership and operation costs are flow-based.
Brian Steglitz, executive director of the Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA), briefed the Manassas Park City Council on Dec. 2 about two related studies: a jurisdictional cost allocation review and a plant rerating study. UOSA serves Manassas Park, Manassas, parts of Fairfax County and parts of Prince William County and manages a 54 million‑gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant, Steglitz said.
The jurisdictional cost allocation study looked to align charges with cost-of-service principles and equity concerns raised by member jurisdictions. Steglitz said UOSA will propose service-agreement modifications to (1) separate septic-haul costs so jurisdictions that do not use the septic receiving facility do not pay for it, (2) create capacity-loading compensation where jurisdictions that exceed their nutrient allocations compensate others that have spare capacity, and (3) level reserve maintenance charges to smooth spikes by charging consistent quarterly amounts with year-end true-ups.
A rerating study identified opportunities to recover nutrient-removal capacity through a set of targeted projects rather than a single large expansion. Steglitz said the list of capacity-improvement projects totals roughly $50–$60 million and, if implemented, would reduce overages for jurisdictions currently exceeding their nutrient-allocation shares and create additional capacity available to members.
Council members asked whether Manassas Park residents would see immediate rate changes. Steglitz said operation and maintenance charges are metered and flow-based (customers pay for usage), while capital costs are distributed based on proportional ownership of the plant; any capital-project-driven rate proposals would be considered later by the UOSA board. He also described a proposed automated 'capacity loaning' algorithm that would show deducts/credits on quarterly bills if another jurisdiction used some of Manassas Park’s available capacity.
Steglitz said UOSA has largely obligated its ARPA funds and has a 10‑year capital outlook of approximately $625 million. He invited council members to tour the plant and offered to return to provide more detail on capital cost timing and the five-year capital plan.
Next steps: UOSA will draft proposed service-agreement modifications in 2026 for member review and will present capacity reallocation recommendations to the board for potential action later in the year. Manassas Park staff asked for a follow-up meeting focusing on capital timing and projected rate impacts.