Ronald Wastewater District officials to speak at national conference

Board President Brian T. Carroll and General Manager Michael U. Derrick will be speaking at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Specialty Conference in St. Louis on June 5, 2012. 

RWD was successful in obtaining a favorable Washington State Attorney General's Opinion that permits the use of public money to replace private side sewers in conjunction with a public works project when a public benefit will result. Replacing side sewers reduces inflow and infiltration (I and I) of fresh water into the sanitary sewage collection system and treatment plant. The District has found a unique solution to a national problem. The opinion was obtained with the help of State Representative Ruth Kagi.

One public benefit of replacing side sewers, thereby reducing I and I in the sewage collection system and treatment plants, is fewer sanitary sewer overflows (SSO). Another benefit is the conveyance capacity of the sewer mains and treatment plants is retained or increased without the need to build more pipeline or plants, which is good for development and economic growth.

Communicating to the homeowner the value of having their private side sewer replaced will be the focus of their presentation. RWD is a special purpose government that focuses on providing excellent water/wastewater utility services and is taking the lead in environmental stewardship.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) recently mailed a flyer to residents and businesses in Shoreline titled "A Side Sewer Saga" regarding side sewers and ratepayer responsibility.

SPU distributed this flyer in Shoreline in error, according to the Ronald Wastewater Review. The flyer gave the impression that ratepayers in Shoreline receive their sewer service for SPU and that side sewers are the ratepayers's responsibility from the building to the sewer mainline in the middle of the street. This is incorrect.

Ronald Wastewater District provides sewer service to all homes and businesses in Shoreline (except for The Highlands) and in our District the ratepayer's side sewer responsibility is from the home or business to the District's 6" stub (usually closer to the property line)

If you have any sewer questions, contact the District office at 206-546-3494.