Loon Lake Sewer Wastewater Initiative 2024
Overview:
A study was done by Hunt Engineering Group, working with the Town of Wayland, on a possible sanitary sewer system for the Loon Lake area to preserve the health of the lake. A presentation was made at the annual Loon Lake Association meeting in May of 2023 with initial results. Since that time, additional work was done by a small committee of Loon Lake residents, working with Hunt Engineering to verify and refine the information to present to the Wayland Town Council for a decision moving forward as a grant applicant. The application (to the New York D.E.C.) window for submission is early this summer. This is the first of three grants, a Water Quality Improvement (WQIP) grant that could provide up to $8.3 Mil. of a $13.3Mil estimated project cost. There are an additional two grants that the Town of Wayland could qualify for.
On May 8 2024 the Wayland Town Council approved to move forward to apply for the grant. Hunt Engineering is doing the application on the Town of Wayland’s behalf. We should find out by February 2025 or sooner if we receive the grant. If received, the next steps could be to form a sewer district upon receiving a majority of supporting petition signatures. There is no obligation to accept the grant and we have two years to evaluate and decide whether to accept the Grant.
In 2023 New York State made available $325 million in grants for clean water infrastructure projects through the State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs. This funding complements Governor Hochul’s State of the State initiative to increase water infrastructure grants for small rural communities to supplement project costs to help support smaller communities in their lake preservation initiatives. The Town of Wayland is appropriately positioned to receive substantial grants for a sewer project.
Why Are We Considering This Project:
- In recent years harmful algae blooms have become more frequent on the lake which can cause serious issues, if touched. Recent studies indicate the increasing phosphorous and chlorophyll markers indicative of HABs.
- Loon Lake is a kettle lake with no surface outlet streams to permit the outflow of contaminated water. Little natural “flushing” occurs. The muck bottom of the lake is increasing and that encourages weed growth, which is why we harvest the weeds daily.
- Surveys done at Loon Lake over the years, most recently 2014, indicate an ongoing health hazard from improperly maintained, or improperly located septic systems. A significant number of cases indicated working septic systems are non-“existent”, unknown, buried under lot structures, or consist of 55-gallon drums or rock “cisterns”, some back from a century ago. Additionally, as septic systems begin to fail, the appropriate location of a new septic system is impossible due to property constraints and septic placement requirements.
- Run-off from area hills and property carry contaminants that impact the water quality.
What Will This Cost:
Based on cost estimates by Hunt Engineering December 2023, the cost for each equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) in the defined district is estimated at $933 annually.
Sewer District as Proposed by Hunt Engineering
- 188 dwelling units in the sewer district. This includes properties on the lake proper, and properties across the road from the lake.
- 3 Grants are available and would be applied for against a total cost of $13.3 million. The remaining cost would be financed by the Town of Wayland.
- $8.3 mil ( WQIP)
- $1.1mil (WIIA)
- $.5 mil (US Rural Development)
- The economic status of the Town of Wayland overall will qualify the project remaining cost at a 0% interest rate over 30 years. Previously the interest rate was mistakenly assumed at 4.5%. This difference alone reduces the cost per EDU by more than $1000/year from the prior estimate.
- The sewer project would install the residents’ line from the nearest main- usually at the road- to a septic tank and grinder pump near the residence- all paid for by the project. Residents would pay to connect their residential septic line to the septic tank provided by the project. Residents would avoid future one-time costs of installing or replacing or repairing a septic system or holding tank and avoid the recurring cost of pumping out a septic or holding tank. Residents will NOT be charged by usage. There will be no metering.
- The plan being proposed for the Sewage treatment plant is almost entirely underground, close to the output/discharge point, but will NOT be on the Loon Lake Preserve property.
As we learn more from the Grant process, communications will continue.
For Questions:
Hunt Engineering Project Coordinator, Dillon Taylor
585-327-7950, or email taylord@hunt-eas.com.
Committee members:
Eric Busch, John & Ann Grieb, Cathy Saxton, Mark Davidson, Bob Reynolds 5/15/24 Version
Loon Lake, Steuben County, NY 