Ronald Wastewater meets with Shoreline neighborhood association leaders

By Betty Spieth-Croll

Ronald Wastewater District (RWD) kicked off a series of community outreach and education meetings last month at a luncheon on May 13 for leaders from all of the neighborhoods served by the District. The event was held in the new Ronald Wastewater District garage adjacent to the District office. 

“This is the kick-off to our community meetings,” said RWD Commission President Brian Carroll,"  (pictured right, addressing the group)  and an Open House for this great new facility.”

Twenty-eight leaders attended the meeting, representing 11 neighborhoods: Ballinger, Briarcrest, Echo Lake, Innis Arden, Highland Terrace, Hillwood, Meridian Park, North City, Richmond Beach, Richmond Highlands, and Ridgecrest.

The purpose of the neighborhood outreach meetings is to inform community members about capital projects in each neighborhood and to respond to neighbors’ interests and questions related to the District’s mission and operations. On May 13, Carroll and RWD Manager Michael U. Derrick gave attendees an overview of completed, upcoming and planned projects in each of the 13 neighborhoods served by the District.

Photo, left to right: Commissioner Brian Carroll; Bob Allen, Innis Arden Neighborhood; Commissioner Arthur L. Wadekamper

Additionally, Carroll talked about the District’s sixty year history of service in the community and its commitment to environmental and financial stewardship. He reminded attendees that they are important partners with Ronald Wastewater District in keeping the environment clean. Proper disposal and use of sewer lines, appropriate landscaping, and keeping prescription drugs out of sewer lines are all ways neighbors can help keep the waters in Puget Sound clean. By planning ahead and keeping the District’s infrastructure well maintained, RWD keeps leakage into and out of sewer pipeline to a minimum. At the District’s request and with the assistance of Rep. Ruth Kagi, the State Attorney General’s office recently offered its opinion that Ronald Wastewater District can replace private side sewers in its service area, further reducing unwanted inflow and infiltration in the pipeline. This work is now underway. Find information on this and other capital projects in your neighborhood here.

The first of the neighborhood meetings, for the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association, is scheduled for Thursday, June 17th, 6 pm, at the RWD office, 17505 Linden Ave N, Shoreline 98133. Dates and times for other meetings are being set. Watch your neighborhood association calendar, and check back at the RWD website for meeting details, or call RWD at 206-546-2494 for more information. 

Photo: left to right, Brian Carroll, RWD Commissioner; Michael Derrick, General Manager; George Dicks, Maintenance Supervisor.

Ronald Wastewater District was formed in 1951 by petition and election in response to the residents of the area to construct, operate, and maintain a sanitary sewage collection system RWD currently serves approximately 53,000 customers in the City of Shoreline and parts of unincorporated Snohomish County. The District receives flows from a portion of the Town of Woodway, City of Mountlake Terrace, and the Highlands Sewer District. For more information see the website.