North Elba continues work on $5.42 million sewer project

LAKE PLACID | The Town of North Elba is currently undertaking a $5.42 million joint sewer improvement project along Ruisseaumont Way and the back side of Mirror Lake. The bulk of the sewer main will be rehabilitated using a cure-in-place pipe lining method to seal cracks and other deficiencies. Parts of the sewer main that can't be repaired with this technique will need to be dug up, removed, and replaced. "It's very old, so it's in need of some repair," said Town of North Elba Councilwoman Emily Kilburn Politi. "It's obviously important to make sure that the sewer line remains intact and is functioning fully and properly." This improvement project, which originally was a joint effort between the town and the Village of Lake Placid until the town completed the process to assume the role of lead agency last summer, resulted from a previous study that showed higher-than-normal flow in this area from both rainfall and elevated groundwater, which causes the village wastewater treatment plant to be flooded with additional clean water. The village plant was first constructed in 1972, and its last upgrade took place in 2004. Discussions to upgrade the plant started in 2022, and since then, the necessary funds to complete the $12.45 million project have been obtained. The town and village has also secured grant funding for the $5.42 million project, as well, including a $3.75 million grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's WQIP (Water Quality Improvement Project) Program, a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program that funds projects that protect drinking water, combat contributors to harmful algal blooms, update aging water infrastructure, and improve habitats in communities statewide. Kilburn Politi said that "what is not being funded by grants is being funded by low-interest/0-interest loans." For this project, the town and village decided to work once again with the engineering firm Suozzo, Doty, & Associates, which has helped both municipalities with other projects, such as the evaluation of the sewers along the lower section of Main Street — more specifically, between the Post Office and the intersection of Routes 86 and 73. "For this specific project, much more planning has to be done this year. I don't think the actual work itself will start until next year," Kilburn Politi said about the project that's going to be completed in two parts. "It's a work in progress. Either way, this is going to be a multi-year project." The goal of both town and village officials is to complete these necessary projects with as minimal impact on its users as possible. "That's another challenge we have to think about. We can't just shut the power off," said Jason Endries, chief operator of the plant, in a previous interview. He continued to say that the plant serves about 5,000 year-round customers, but depending on the time of year or the events that are happening, that number could easily double or even triple. But rest assured, "the treatment process will still go on. The contractors will just have to work around all that so that there's no interruption in service." This also applies to the overall cost to taxpayers and ratepayers, as town and village officials are working to keep rates and taxes low. For more information or updates, visit northelba.villageoflakeplacid.ny.gov.

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North Elba continues work on $5.42 million sewer project

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