Stormwater Operations & Maintenance

  1. 1 Two public works employees using the vactor truck to perform maintenance.
  2. 2 Street sweeper on public road
  3. 3 Vactor truck and public works employees maintaining stormwater drain.

Stormwater systems don’t just manage rain, they protect water quality, reduce flooding, and prevent pollution from reaching our streams and wetlands. In Ridgefield, long-term maintenance of these systems is essential to keeping them working properly, both on public and private property.

Municipal Responsibilities

The City of Ridgefield maintains a wide range of public stormwater infrastructure, including catch basins, storm pipes, outfalls, ponds, and treatment facilities. Our Public Works crews routinely perform:

  • Street sweeping and inlet cleaning
  • Vactor truck operations to remove debris
  • Facility inspections and maintenance
  • Spill response and pollution prevention
  • Proper handling of materials and waste from municipal yards and vehicles

These efforts are part of our responsibilities under the Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit and help reduce the amount of sediment, trash, and pollutants entering local waterways.

Privately Maintained Stormwater Facilities

Many private properties - including residential subdivisions, commercial sites, and multi-family housing - have stormwater facilities that must be maintained by the property owner, developer, or homeowner association (HOA). These may include:

  • Rain gardens or bioretention facilities
  • Detention or multi-stage wet ponds
  • Oil-water separators or treatment vaults

Regular inspection and maintenance is critical to keeping these systems working as designed. Clogged inlets, overgrown vegetation, or sediment buildup can reduce performance and lead to flooding or water quality issues.

Voluntary Inspections for Private Facilities

To meet state permit requirements and help ensure private stormwater systems continue to function as designed, the City of Ridgefield offers free, voluntary inspections for HOAs and property owners. While long-term maintenance is the responsibility of the owner, the City provides this service to support compliance, identify maintenance needs early, and answer questions.

You can contact Sean Mulderig, Stormwater Permit Coordinator at 360-857-5035 or by emailing stormwater@ridgefieldwa.us.