It may be the middle of winter, but that has not stopped construction of new sewers for the west side of Chautauqua Lake. It is now underway.

As you head toward Mayville from Hogan’s Hut on Route 394, you come up a hill and just beyond the crest, on the right-hand side, you will see the staging area for what is going on. There are coils of plastic pipe, sluices that may be needed, a construction trailer and various pieces of construction equipment…all associated with extending sewers from Stow up to Prendergast Point.

A couple of weeks ago as the cold snap began, the first lateral of the extension was connected to the Power Boat Club on Bootey Bay. Gradually, the construction activity will move north and west from there. The main line will be laid along Route 394. The majority of the lateral lines will be installed between Route 394 and the lake.

For me, this effort is a major milestone for the lake. When the project is completed next year, the entire west side of the lake will be served by public sewers.

Nobody thinks much about sewers. They are underground and invisible. But, what they do is an important public benefit. They help clean up watersheds and ensure that the effluent from human activity is properly disposed of.

Our “hats should be off” to the County for sticking with this project and finding the state and federal money to make it possible. Now we can watch as the sewer extension system is constructed.

Having been an elected official myself many years ago, I have always had the “pet peeve” that this kind of a project often gets “lost in the shuffle.” Public infrastructure of this nature takes long-term thinking and commitment. It can’t be done in two or four years…the usual political election time-table that we deal with.

For homeowners being affected, you will soon see two “pipes” coming to where the surveyor stakes were set last summer marking your connection to the sewer. The larger pipe will move the sewage. The smaller one is actually an electrical conduit to bring the electricity needed to run the pump-grinders which drive the system.

Again, we need to thank those who have had the foresight to see this project through. Building sewers is an unheralded public service but an important one. It is the kind of bedrock public infrastructure that our communities need if they are to grow and prosper.

It is also an important step in continuing to remove phosphorus and other pollutants that affect the lake and groundwater.

A process is also now underway which will lead to extending sewer service between the Point Chautauqua area and Midway State Park. When that is finished, the entire shoreline of Chautauqua Lake will be served by public sewers.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.