The pipe (colored blue, see inset photo at middle right) is no longer protected in the riverbank.
Photos by Arlo Popa
SNOHOMISH — Last month, the restrooms at Pilchuck Park (169 Cypress Ave.) were closed to the public and will not reopen for the season. A sewer utility main was exposed because of riverbank erosion along the Pilchuck River caused the closure, according to the city of Snohomish.
The Pilchuck Park restroom building is at a lower elevation, so it requires a small lift station that pushes the wastewater up (or “lifts”) to the sewer main on Second Street. The exposed pipe was discovered May 1, Public Works and Parks Director Nova Heaton said. The city acted quickly to close the restrooms. Heaton said the pipe has not been damaged, however, with the ground not keeping the pipe in place, there is a risk of the pipe breaking. Heaton said via email that the risk would be even greater if the lift station is operational, as it could create internal pressure within the pipe. The pressure systems in the pipes rely on the opposite pressure of the soil to keep it in place.
With the system being off and the bathrooms being closed, there is no risk of sewage leaking. Additionally, there is no risk of dirt or debris intrusion in the sewer main due to the elevations of the restrooms.
For now, there are six portable restrooms at Pilchuck Park. The portable restrooms will remain there for the season.
Snohomish is working on a bank stabilization project, with construction anticipated for 2026. The goal would be to help reduce river erosion and prevent similar events from happening in the future. Heaton said the installation of a new sewer force main from the restrooms to the sewer main (on Second Street) will be added to that project. However, challenges with permits may affect the timeline of this project.
Updates on other public restrooms in Snohomish:
Restrooms at Hill Park (1610 Park Ave.) remain open to the public and feature an additional portable restroom. At Hill Park, the city also completed repairs to the Keaton Memorial Fishing Dock (South Dock), making the park fully operational.
Ferguson Park’s restrooms were closed when a Tribune reporter went to check in early June. Similar to Hill Park, Ferguson Park features a portable restroom that is open.
The city also added gates to both Ferguson Park and the Ferguson Boat launch, which lock after dusk. Hill Park has gates, too, to deter late-night vandalism and visitors after dusk.
The public restrooms on First Street were open and operational. They are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
