Utilities

Water
There are two providers of water in Winchester and Frederick County. The City of Winchester provides water to Winchester and parts of Frederick County. The Frederick County Sanitation Authority (FCSA) provides water to portions of Frederick County.

The City of Winchester operates a facility with an operating capacity is 10.3 mgd. Of that amount, 2.0 mgd is allocated to Frederick County Sanitation Authority by contract to the year 2000. The water is drawn from the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The average daily use for the City of Winchester and Middletown is 5.4 mgd and the FCSA is 0.4 mgd for a total average daily use of 5.8 mgd. Peak usage was 8.5 mgd. Eight and half million gallons are stored in the existing City system. The City is planning the addition of a 1 mgd facility utilizing a microfiltration process from Faye Spring, north of Winchester.

The Frederick County Sanitation Authority operates a 4 mgd water treatment facility west of Stephens City. The FCSA began operation of a new facility in November 1993 and is currently processing 1.9 mgd. This new water treatment facility west of Stephens City has a design capacity of 4 mgd and reached 3.2 mgd in its operational qualification by February 1994. The source is ground water in quarries and is being treated to surface water treatment standards. The FCSA has 4 million gallons in storage.

Water rates vary by location and service.

Sewer
The Opequon Water Reclamation Facility is operated by the Frederick-Winchester Service Authority. Average daily use is 5.9 mgd. Plans are being developed to expand the current capacity to 8.4 mgd and a 50% increase in biological capacity. The Authority provides wholesale service to Winchester City and the Frederick County Sanitation Authority.

The Frederick County Sanitation Authority operates Parkins Mills facilities. The facility was expanded in January 1996 to 2.0 mgd. The average daily use is 1.1 mgd.

Sewer rates vary by location and service.

Solid Waste Disposal
The 383-acre Frederick County Landfill, serving city and county, is located five miles east of Winchester on US Highway 50. Not permitted are infectious hospital, hazardous, and liquid wastes. The sanitary landfill will be adequate for the foreseeable future (20 years). The newest cell was the first in Virginia to install a composite liner so is fully compliant with all Virginia regulations of SubTitle D.

Tipping fees are $38.00 per ton.

Solid waste disposal is provided by City collection and by private contractors in the County. Dumpster and compactor sites are located in the County.

Certified hazardous waste haulers include Browning-Ferris Industries and Waste Management. Hazardous waste is normally hauled to a facility in Richmond (closest).

Electricity
Electricity is provided by the Allegheny Power System. Most generation facilities are coal. Serving a 29,100 square mile area, the Allegheny Power System has competitive rates on the East Coast. Average cost per kwh for light industry is 4.5 cents.

Natural Gas
Shenandoah Gas provides natural gas and offers both firm and interruptible contracts. In each case, rates are stepped according to volume used. For a twelve month average ending July 1996, the average cost for all users was $4.68 per MCF or $0.45 per Therm.

Telecommunications
Advanced fiber optic networks. Fully digital switch. Separate information sheet available.