When people talk about building public infrastructure, I begin looking for maps and locations. The recent engineering study titled “Sewer Extension West Side of Chautauqua Lake” by the firm O’Brien and Gere, through the use of color-coded maps, does a good job of helping visualize where the sewers would be built. Some highlights of the report include:

Main Sewer Line: The main sewer line on the west side of the Lake would be located on the Route 394 right-of-way. This, obviously, is already dedicated public space and is also the most direct route to deliver sewage south to the existing South/Center Sewer District.

Northern Terminus: The main line would begin in the area where the Fish Hatchery road intersects with Rt. 394.

Southern Terminus: The main line would end near the “big curve” at the BOCES School where it would meet an existing line which is already connected to the South/Center Sewer District system.

Boundaries: All of the area between Rt. 394 and the lake would be sewered. Properties within 500 ft. west of the highway would also be included in the system. A lateral line is proposed to extend up Davis Rd. beyond the 500 ft. limit to pick up the effluent from a mobile home park located alongside Prendergast Creek. Another major westward lateral would be extended up Rt. 474 to pick up sewage from the hamlet of Ashville.

Lateral Lines toward the Lake: Various lateral lines would be built between Rt. 394 and the Lake to collect sewage from places like Mallard Cove, Woodlawn, Wells Bay, Stow, Cheney’s Point, etc. where there are large concentrations of small, lake-side parcels. Provision will be made to insure that all parcels between Rt. 394 and the Lake will have access to sewers through this system of lateral lines.

Grinder/Pump Pressure System: If you live toward the Lake and below the level of the main line, you will most likely be connected through a grinder pump, pressure system to transport the sewage. (Some properties higher in elevation than the main line may be able to utilize gravity flow.) Much of the existing South/Center District is served by a similar pump grinder system. A pressurized system allows for construction of sewers at a moderate depth thus avoiding some of the excessive costs of building a deeper and more expensive lift/gravity system. Trying to reduce construction costs is an integral part of the engineering design study recommendations.

This may be more information than the average citizen needs or wants. However, it is important to know that a lot of effort has gone into planning for “sewers around the lake.” When could this begin to happen? It all depends upon receiving state and federal aid. Local property owners who benefit will also be charged a quarterly/annual fee for the new service.

It won’t be a “cheap date” the estimated cost to sewer the west side of the Lake is $40.5 million. But hopefully, with assistance from Albany and Washington, it can be done at a cost the public will support. Cleaning up Chautauqua Lake is in everyone’s best interest whether you live on the Lake or not.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident who represented Chautauqua County in the New York state Assembly for eight years.