April potluck provided an closeup look the Northshore's water and sewer system

100th Anniversary potluck series offers kids an education in city operations

Northshore Utilities Acting General Manager Ethan Maiefski (left) and Maintenance and Operations Director Tom Vane (right) presented an indepth look at how the people of Kenmore get pure, clean water when they turn on their taps, and where it all goes from there.

The April 9 Kenmore Community Club provided those who attended with a closeup look at Northshore Utility District, which serves more than 85,000 people in the City of Kenmore, and parts of the cities of Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland and Woodinville.

Acting General Manager Ethan Maiefski presented a brief history of the utility. After Kenmore's original Water District 79, formed in 1947, merged with the neighboring Northeast Lake Washington Sewer District of Lake Forest Park in 1979, the combined utility subsequently became the Northshore Utility District in 1991.

Maintenance and Operations Director Tom Vane talked about how the city gets its water from the Tolt River watershed, and how the department maintains more than 22,000 water and sewer service connections, including 281 miles of water mains, 261 miles of sewer conveyance pipes, 11 lift stations, 3 water pump stations, 11 building structures, and 8 storage tanks with a combined capacity of 29 million gallons.

The District is also an active local municipal partner for emergency management services and provides fleet services providing fueling and other services for Northshore/Shoreline Fire Departments and the cities of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.

In addition to providing permiting and mapping services for new developments seeking to connect to water and sewer, the department maintains a Comprehensive Water and Wastewater plan that addresses the impacts of long-term growth, regulatory requirements, and land use regulations within the cities of Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, and Woodinville.

Vane also presented an overview of the new technologies employed to monitor water quality and ensure the sewage systems are safe and reliable.

The potluck series is celebrating city services as part of the Kenmore Community Club's 100th Anniversary going on throughout the year.

The next potluck presentation will feature the Northshore Utility District. Bring the kids and a dish to share to the next potluck April 9, 6:30pm to 9pm to learn about what makes a city run.

Click here for the full schedule of presentations