STOW — The town of North Harmony has been continuing work on the active sewer expansion project for the area. With phase one of the project complete, phase two has begun. In this phase hookups are already beginning for some of the town municipal buildings. With more availability for public sewer options in the town, officials said they are excited for residents to have a more sustainable alternative to a standard septic tank.

Town Supervisor Robert Yates noted that, with the project now in phase two of construction, the Ashville Fire Department Building and the town municipal building have both now been connected to this sewer district. Yates said the first phase expanded the sewer district to cover from the Sunrise Cove area all the way to Stow, which was completed in the fall.

The second phase of the construction will be further expanding the sewer district from the Stow area, where phase one ended, up to Prendergast Creek, said Yates.

Yates did make note that part of this expanded district will actually be out of North Harmony’s town boundaries instead expanding up into the town of Chautauqua. Once the expansion reaches the creek near Davis Road, Yates stated that Chautauqua will take on any responsibilities beyond that point.

“It is going to be a complete loop around the lake, which is really good. You know, it’s good for the health of people’s water and great for the lake,” said Yates. “It really helps keep a lot of nutrients out of the lake.”

The option of being able to hook into a public sewer system will likely allow many to have better water quality in their homes as well. Yates noted that, in the Ashville Bay area, many of the resident’s homes are very close in proximity. While Yates stated that it is customary to separate a water well and septic tank by at least 100 feet, some houses that are in close proximity do not even have the ability to do so. With this option, residents will not have to fear contamination to their well water anymore.

Yates noted that much of the second phase of preconstruction and planning began to occur when the project was in the final stages of the first phase, allowing the project to take off immediately. Yates noted that the Hamlet of Ashville is still one significant place within the town that does not have any sort of sewer district. Yates noted the potential benefits that further expansions could bring to areas like this in the future, especially with the nearby low-lying Goose Creek. While no plans are currently in place for an expansion in this area, Yates stated that there is still room for more districts to form in the future. If there is enough eventual interest in another district in that area, Yates noted that the town would potentially consider this expansion.

Yates stated that the work is currently being completed faster than initially expected, especially considering the harsh weather conditions that workers must endure during this time.