It is with deep sadness that Fairfax Water announces the passing of Frederick P. Griffith Jr. on August 5, 2022, at the age of 94. Working alongside a small team of dedicated professionals, Griffith was one of the founding leaders of Fairfax Water which was established in 1957.
Griffith joined the organization in 1958 as Deputy Engineer-Director and in 1985 became the Engineer-Director. He successfully acquired numerous independent water systems, negotiated the sale of treated water to wholesale customers in neighboring jurisdictions, and developed regional agreements to develop storage reservoirs and cooperatively use the Potomac River supply during periods of low flow in the river. To recognize his service to the community, Fairfax Water, in 2006, named their new state-of-the-art drinking water treatment plant in Lorton, VA, the Frederick P. Griffith Jr. Water Treatment Plant.
Since 1957, Fairfax Water has grown from an organization with no infrastructure or customers to the largest water utility in Virginia, producing high-quality drinking water for over two million residents of Northern Virginia. This is due in large part to the leadership and contributions of Frederick P. Griffith Jr. Our most sincere condolences go out to the Griffith family.