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.

Further notes/FAQs:

Why a sewer?

Q. Our lakes and wells are polluted by many things, runoff, fertilizer, goose poop. Why are we working on a sewer?

A. Yes, many pollutants can impact lakes and drinking water. Studies have shown that septic systems in these areas are older, often in poor soils, and contribute a sizable amount of pollution to both groundwater aquifers and lakes. This will worsen as increasing precipitation events occur. We should continue to focus on reducing other sources of pollution in addition to the sewer.

Q. Why not just use the money to replace all septic systems?

A. The funds are provided only for replacing septic systems with sewers, which is seen as a longer term and more effective solution than replacing septic systems. Lake Kitchawan will have a septic replacement and maintenance district because a sewer is too expensive to build in that area.

Sewer Plant Questions:

Q. Where will the sewer treatment plant be , and what will it look like?

A. It will be on town-owned property by the current town recycling center. It could look like a home or barn.

Q. Will the sewer treatment plant be noisy, will it smell, will it be lit up 24 hours a day?

A. The treatment will all be inside a building, which will be designed to contain odors and noise. The Oakridge and Wild Oaks plants are run by the town and have all the operations inside the building. Also see private plants like those on Michelle Estates or the small plant at the former Lewisboro Elementary School. Lighting would be minimized but allow safe nighttime access. The backup generator would be outside and would cause some noise when running or exercising.

Q. What if there’s a big storm, could chemicals or materials in the plant run down to Truesdale Lake?

A. The plant would be designed with containment systems. All chemicals and processing would take place under cover inside a plant building.

Q. What is the quality of effluent from the plant? Could you drink it?

A. The effluent will be highly treated but not to drinking water standards. It will receive secondary treatment, microbial action, sand filtration, and UV disinfection.

Q. Where will the plant effluent go?

A. The effluent would be discharged to the tributary to the Waccabuc River below the Truesdale Lake outfall.

Q. Can the sewer plant be sized for future expansion?

A. The plant can be designed to make future expansion easier, but the plant will be built to handle current use.

Q. Will all approvals be obtained before the vote on the district?

A. No. Some approvals require the establishment of a district. Some approvals require full plant design. The project will be subject to SEQR review. The project will be discussed in detail with approving agencies as far in advance as feasible.

Q. Why were these parcels chosen, and why weren’t others chosen?

A. The design balances minimizing the cost (length) of the sewer main and maximizing the number of homes served by choosing homes that are close together.

Money!

Q. What if the Town doesn’t get grants?  Will they have to borrow money and then what is the cost of the loan?

A. The project will not go forward unless the capital costs are covered by grants.  A loan is not under consideration.

Q. Is $1450 the average cost per home? Will a house that is worth more pay more?

A. The details will be available when the Map, Plan, and Report is released. Some sewer districts charge partially based on water volume or a proxy for water use such as bedroom count.

Q. Will there be extra cost for maintaining the sewer system and replacing components that wear out and age?

A. The $1450 annual estimate will cover both ongoing operations and future maintenance of the system.

Q. Can the annual sewer cost increase over time?

A. Yes, it can. This will be managed by the town, and subject to town review and notice, not a private profit-making company. Others noted that the cost of pumping and replacing your septic system has increased over time.

Q. What about houses below the level of the road, will the connection from the house run across other property and who will pay for that?

A. Connections are made from the home to the road on their own property. Each house will have a grinder pump that will move the household waste to the sewer main.

Q. What will be the cost to hookup and decommission my septic system?

A. An estimate will be available in the Map, Plan, and Report. The project will pay for the cost of the lateral from the main to the grinder pump, which in most cases will be close to the septic tank. The homeowner will pay for hookup from the house to the grinder pump. The septic tank is decommissioned by filling with sand, and septic fields are left in place.

Q. What will be the increase in my home value from being on the system? Will my assessment increase?

A. Sewers are considered to increase home values but it’s hard to say how much. It could also be an intangible benefit. If no other changes are made to your home, in the past house assessments have not changed when a sewer is added.

Electrical outages

Q. What if the power goes out?

A. The system will be designed with extra capacity to deal with power outages. The plant will have a backup generator and individual pumps will have a generator connection point. For homes without a backup generator, systems operators would use portable generators to power the grinder pumps and street pumps in the event of a lengthy outage. We don’t know of battery backup systems for grinder pumps.

Community impact questions.

Q. Will a sewer system enable unconstrained building and change the character of the community?

A. Normal zoning and building codes apply. The DEP limits building to 80% of the capacity of the sewer plant. The formation of the district includes a sewer law that will apply just to the district, which could, if the community wanted, impose additional restrictions. This will be known before the vote. bNote that today houses can be limited by the number of bedrooms but still be quite large.

Q. Will the sewer harm tree roots, recognizing that harming trees would harm the runoff and water quality?

A. The sewer main will go along the road, so that shouldn’t be a big factor. The lateral from the main in the street to the grinder pump near the septic tank would be laid out by house: some impact could occur.

Q. Will wildlife be impacted by a sewer running under the streets? 

A. Construction could bother wildlife. We know of no studies showing an impact from underground sewer pipes.

Q. Will the pumps along the mains be noisy?

A. It is very difficult to hear the underground pumps even when you are standing directly above them. 

Q. My community has water system pipes, and a 10 foot separation distance is required. How will this be handled?

A. When designing the system, all available information will be used to try to assess locations of all utilities. Tools like ground penetrating radar are available. Risks will be managed as well as possible, and any damage will be repaired.

Q. Could we get additional money to address the drinking water issue?

A. Drinking water grants are available, and would require district formation and partnership with the town.

Q. This will benefit everyone around the lakes, and everyone who drinks the water. Can they share the costs?

A. The laws on district formation do not allow this. The sewer users must pay for the operations and maintenance.

Q. If we use state and county money for the sewer capital costs, do we have to open our lakes to the public?

A. No.

(These questions & answers are from this MS OneDrive document: https://1drv.ms/w/c/995e901f05795992/EaReH8DvyVRLkcYX6hlRupgBtE3FwRpIwJXtQcI833U2Cg )