On October 16, 2025, Stafford County joined a nationwide initiative, “Imagine a Day Without Water,” to highlight the importance of water and the need for investment in water infrastructure. The event, organized by the United States Water Alliance’s Value of Water Campaign, brings together elected officials, utilities, community leaders, educators, and businesses to promote awareness about the essential role of water in daily life.
Stafford County Utilities staff work year-round to provide safe and reliable drinking water to residents. The department supplies nearly 11.5 million gallons of water each day through more than 700 miles of water lines. Two facilities, Lake Mooney and Smith Lake, treat over four billion gallons of drinking water annually.
Advanced technologies and strict monitoring are used to ensure the quality of Stafford County’s drinking water. “Stafford County Utilities ensures that customers receive high-quality water every time they turn on the tap by using advanced technologies and practices in the drinking-water treatment process. Customers can rest assured that the water they drink meets all health regulations for safety. Stafford’s water system is monitored and maintained by a team of highly skilled operators, engineers, technical experts and administrative staff to ensure Stafford’s drinking water meets or exceeds every state and federal requirement that safeguards public health.”
The county also works to protect natural resources by regularly testing streams and reservoirs.
Stafford County Public Schools District serves as the only school district in the county and enrolled 31,700 students during the 2023-24 school year. This represented a 1.7% increase from the previous year’s total of 31,160 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Among its schools, Brooke Point High School had the highest enrollment with 2,242 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). White students made up the largest ethnic group in the district at 38.9%, followed by Hispanic students at 24.5% (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Rising Star Early Childhood Education Center at Melchers enrolled the most pre-kindergarten students among county schools, with 292 children accounting for over half of all pre-kindergarten enrollment (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home).
“Water is used in countless ways daily, and it plays a vital role in people’s lives. The next time you turn on your tap, think of the men and women of Stafford County Utilities who are hard at work making that happen,” the county stated.
