Information for the lake community – public information session – Tuesday October 8, 2024 @ 7:30pm at the Lewisboro Courthouse / Commons at 79 Bouton Road. Email questions to LewisboroLakesCoalition@gmail.com.

Note: This document in PDF form is available at the bottom of this post.

Past posts on this proposed project can be found here:

• https://truesdalelake.com/2024/04/continued-push-for-sewer-proposal/
• https://truesdalelake.com/2023/07/cleaning-up-our-lakes-septics-sewers/

A sewer district for Lakes Waccabuc, Oscaleta, Truesdale, and Rippowam

In 2021, the town obtained grant funds for engineering studies on lakes Kitchawan, Truesdale, and Waccabuc. Study results pointed to failing and poorly functioning septic systems as a source of phosphorus pollution to our lakes – and, as you know, phosphorus enables growth of algae and aquatic plants. Septic systems work when the wastewater can percolate and be purified by chemical and bacterial actions in the soil. A failing septic system has wastewater evident from the surface or backing up into the home. Poorly functioning septic systems allow septic wastewater to reach groundwater before being purified. Groundwater can then carry phosphorus to the lakes and into the aquifer that provides our drinking water. Poorly functioning septic systems may pass DOH muster but still polute.

In our watersheds, poorly functioning septic systems are likely to be a larger issue than failing systems. Poorly functioning systems can result from environmental constraints or aging system components. Septic systems need good soils to treat wastewater. Poorly functioning septic systems may be on steep slopes (>15%), or have shallow depth to bedrock, shallow depth to groundwater, very fast or very slow infiltration rates, or be within 150’ of lakes, streams, or wetlands. Or they could be old. EPA estimates that the lifespan of a septic system is 50 years. Cornell Cooperative Extension says the best case useful life is 20 to 30 years. Regular pumping and maintenance should help extend operational life, but at some point septic systems will need replacement. Most of the homes around our lakes were built more than 50 years ago. But even with replacement, the environmental issues of slope and soil on our constrainted lots have not changed. Sewers will ensure that the waste is properly handled.

With Input from community members and elected officials, engineers developed a sewer proposal, sized based on anticipated funding availability of $40M. The plan includes selected parcels on Truesdale, Waccabuc, Rippowam, and Oscaleta lakes. The wastewater treatment plant would be near the Town’s current recycling center and highway garage. A collection system will run from the homes, along the roads, to the wastewater treatment plant. After treatment, plant effluent would be discharged into the Waccabuc River tributary stream that flows out of Truesdale Lake.

Many steps remain before implementation. We need to obtain funding. The plan requires approval by a host of permitting agencies. A majority of homes that would be in the project must vote in favor.

Proposed septic district (image)

Proposed Lewisboro sewer district – Clean W.O.T.R. Project – FAQ’s

1. Why establish a sewer tax district?

A tax district is a legal structure which isolates the costs of a project to those who benefit from the project, i.e., the costs of the sewer tax district only apply to the users of the sewer. The Town will use its taxing powers to collect payments, and those in the district will have tax-deductible payments (although SALT applies). Tax districts are set up for water systems (like in Vista), for fire departments (like South Salem, Vista, and Goldens Bridge FDs). Peach Lake set up a tax district for their sewer system.

2. What is the procedure to set up a tax district?

Engineers draw up a Map, Plan and Report, which specifies the type of district, the parcels included, the budget, and the per-parcel cost. The costs can be structured based on number of parcels or property value. Town Board approves the district formation and holds a referendum. Property owners within the district would then vote to approve or reject the proposed district. The exact voting rules will be explained before the vote. We certainly hope that a large majority would vote in favor. The Town Board would then approve the tax district. District formation will also require approval by the office of the State Comptroller.

3. What properties would be included in the tax district?

The proposed sewer district currently includes 304 houses around Truesdale, Waccabuc, Oscaleta, and Rippowam. This will be finalized in the Map, Plan, and Report, available before the vote is taken.

4. How much money is required for the projects?

We plan to get the capital funding required through grants and funds obtained by the Town. The beneficiaries, that is, the homes within the tax district, must pay for the ongoing operations and maintenance as a tax. The ongoing costs of the sewer district are likely to be higher than the periodic cost to pump a conventional septic tank.

5. About how much will this cost me? Will I have to do any maintenance?

Maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the district, and you will not have to worry about repair costs to your septic system ever again. The current estimates are that the annual cost for each home in the sewer district will be roughly $1450, or a bit less than $125/month. We will know more details when the map, plan, and report is complete.

6. Where will the proposed treatment plant be located? Will it be offensive?

The treatment plant will be located behind the Town House, where the current recycling center and some highway equipment is stored. The sewage treatment will be indoors and contained, and both odor and noise abatement will be part of the design. It is likely that the building will look like a barn or similar structure appropriate for its setting. For examples, see the wastewater treatment plants at the Lewisboro Elementary School, at Oakridge Commons, at Wild Oaks, and at Michelle Estates.

7. Where will the effluent from the treatment plant go? Will it go into Truesdale Lake?

The treatment plant wastewater will be piped to the Waccabuc River tributary created by the outfall from Truesdale Lake, and will enter near where Main Street crosses over the stream. The treated effluent will not enter any of the lakes. Dewatered solids remaining at the plant after processing will be removed by a septic pumping truck.