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Sewers Promote Healthy Lake

Recently, the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District (“Sewer District”) moved ahead on extending sewer service up the west side of Chautauqua Lake as far as Stow. Bid specifications were sent out to potential contractors to construct this new sewer extension.

As readers of this column know, getting sewer service around Chautauqua Lake has been one of my interests, and it is good to know that progress is being made.

The money that has been committed in what is called Phase I of the West Lake Sewer Project amounts to $17 million. This includes a grant from the State of New York as well as a multi-million-dollar interest free loan. Loan funds will be paid back through long-term bonds which will be amortized by users of the system once construction is complete and homes are hooked up.

As with all public projects, there have been some unexpected delays–the last one was getting New York State DOT approval on crossing streams and going under bridges along Route 394. Now that this has been resolved, the District is cleared to go ahead and solicit bids for the job.

From my viewpoint, the beginning of construction of what I have called “sewers around the lake” couldn’t come at a better time.

The County is poised to receive some funding through COVID relief federal legislation. Some of this funding has been cleared for sewer and water projects. Just how much and whether it can or will be used to “advance sewers around the lake” is unclear at this point. Nevertheless, with what has already been done and the promise of more infrastructure funding from Washington, we need to be prepared to advance the construction of this comprehensive sewer project.

All of this may seem moot and uninteresting to the average citizen. But the truth of the matter is that without state and federal assistance, such local infrastructure projects like sewer extensions are really beyond the financial capability of local government alone.

We found that out in building sewers up the east side of the lake to the Bemus area years ago. Back then federal and state monies paid for 87.5% of the cost. That is what made it affordable for local residents to have the sewer built.

Such funding opportunities don’t often come along, and so it is good that the County and Sewer District are working to extend sewer service up to Stow and hopefully, someday, all the way to Prendergast Point.

The bid opening for Phase I is scheduled for May 27th, and a contract could be let before the end of summer. Let’s hope that we get a bid(s) within the projected budget for the project. Then construction can begin.

Sewers are only a part of the solution when it comes to maintaining a healthy lake–but they are an important part.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.

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