Sewer

[Mr. V]

I wish they'd put sewer everywhere around the lake, not just in town.

It would end the problem of leeching into the lake, for one thing.

Why hasn't it been done?

Heaven knows the property tax is high enough.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

I wish they'd put sewer everywhere around the lake, not just in town. It would end the problem of leeching into the lake, for one thing.
Why hasn't it been done? Heaven knows the property tax is high enough.

While Paugus Bay is getting a good "rinse" right now, your topic is a hot one at more distant Winnipesaukee coves, bays, and harbors.

For example, Wolfeboro's Winter Harbor never had an algae problem. (Algae being an indicator species of a lake's health). Now, long strands of algae form in early July.

For dilution purposes, the only "flush" for Winter Harbor's waters is to out to the Broads. Thomas Point is the only opening to the Broads and is too small considering the volume of leachate. Evaporation from Winter Harbor's large surface may even draw water through there in the wrong direction!

With hundreds of new septic-only homes being added, two huge communal septic leach fields presently under construction, and the existing earthen sewage-containment dam in danger of a breach -- Wolfeboro has attracted the state's attention.

Five years ago!

Previously, "The Plan" was to pipe all the Lake Region's sewage to the Franklin sewage treatment facility; so far, it's just been a "pipe dream".

While thinking about pollution, one also might think about what this high lake level—and raised water table—is doing in leaching those grandfathered outhouses.

[LIforrelaxin]

Well I am concerned greatly with the health of the lake, I think the thing you have to keep in mind when thinking about putting sewers in is the Cost. Yes I will admit the Taxes are high...but they would go even higher to put a sewer system in around the lake. To put a number on it....even to take the cheaper way out and pipe to the Franklin treatment facility....if it can even process the volume.... your talking about millions of dollars.....

I think before people get locked up about sewers they need to think about what lawn treatments (fertilizers) etc. are doing....and there are a lot of Nice green lawns and beautiful flower beds around the lake now...and those fertilizers aren't always harmless.......

Finally let me say this....if a septic system is correctly installed and operating correctly the end result after the water has leached out is not all that bad....not that I would drink it.........In short what I am saying the issue is not all the septic systems, but all the underdesigned and not maintained systems.......

[Misty Blue]

Hey relaxn, let's keep this one going and maybe do some good.

Subject: Most of us around the Lake have leaching septic systems. Let's pass along information on what the rules for them are and how to best operate them to keep the Lake clean.

Massachusetts DEP put out a pamphlet that I read and it had some suggestions...

1. You don't need to put any "starter" in your system, Rid-X. etc. Everything that is needed to make the system work is going right down the ole' crapper.

2. A system that is in constant use should be pumped out every two years. Any suggestions for one that is used only in the summer? What about islands?

3. There are products out there that claim that if used you will never have to have your tank pumped. The problem is that they do this by turning solids into a liquid which eventually ends up in the field. Bad show.

4. Avoid putting foodstuffs down the sink drain. It doesn't "work" after it hits the septic tank. When I had my first system I told the wife this and she complied. I saw her walk out of the kitchen with a bowl noodles and then I heard the toilet flush! When asked what she did with the noodles she told me that she flushed them because I told her not to put anything down the sink! Eye-Yi-Yi.

Come on guys. You know that we are all plumbers at heart. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Misty Blue.

[mg2107]

I fear it's too late for quality lake waters as enjoyed in days past. Its shores are fatally over built. It is tremendously overused and virtually unprotected.
The only thing that can save the lake is a signifigant down turn in the economy where folks will be unable to build anymore shorefront McManisons and fill up the lake with huge boats and in general continually pollute it.

[jrc]

It amazing how it's always the other guys fault. The old camp owners blame the lawn chemicals from the Mcmansions, and the Mcmansions blame the antiquated septic systems at the old camps. I'm not sure sewers are than answer everwhere, Franklin is a long way from some parts of the lake.

I do think NH should implement a law like Mass. As I understand it, if you sell property in Mass. you must update the septic system to the current codes. So the grandfathering eventually comes to an end. It's tough to believe that there are still legal outhouses in NH.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by mg2107

I fear it's too late for quality lake waters as enjoyed in days past. Its shores are fatally over built. It is tremendously overused and virtually unprotected.
The only thing that can save the lake is a signifigant down turn in the economy where folks will be unable to build anymore shorefront McManisons and fill up the lake with huge boats and in general continually pollute it.

The factors cited are not in themselves a problem. The problem is carelessness that can be associated with them. It's possible to have development on the shorefront that has no pollution associated with it. As long as the shoreline "green" buffer is retained and no lawns put in, and drainage is properly considered, the "McMansion" should not contribute to the problem. Newer septic systems, when properly maintained also do not really add to the problem, especially when low-phosphate detergents are used. Boats properly maintained with no gray water drainage into the lake do not add to the problem. The contributors are as stated in other posts.....fertilizers, obsolete or poorly maintained septic systems, careless dumping of liquids, and boats with oil leaking into bilges and gas spillage are areas where we should focus. We can all do a little something to one or more areas mentioned.

[mg2107]

Too many people are causing the lake to be loved to death. Wether it be homes,boats, lawns ,swimmers or sewerage . It's just overkill plain and simple.

[jrc]

I think Orion has the right idea. Enforce the rules we have and where there are loopholes fill them in.

mg2107, what would you suggest?

[wildwoodfam]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

I wish they'd put sewer everywhere around the lake, not just in town.

It would end the problem of leeching into the lake, for one thing.

Why hasn't it been done?

Heaven knows the property tax is high enough.

It wouldn't really be an issue of Tax increases - but the homeowners would ultimately bear the burden of the cost - down here in the Merrimack Valley there are many areas of our local towns and cities that for a long time had septic. The towns and cities decided to move ahead with sewer hookups to the delight of all. Until the homeowners realized it was going to cost THEM (the homeowner between 5K and 10K to hookup to the sewer lines being laid.

The biggest shocker was that the hookup was MANDATORY - thats right - once the sewer passed your property you had two years to come up with the funds and link into the sewer line. No tax increase - but now these folks who forever paid the septic man every 5 or 6 years - now pay an annual "sewer" fee assessed by the town. And - many still have leech fields, and tanks buried under their property.

Oh well - just my thoughts.

[mg2107]

Moratorioum on lakeside construction. Sewer treatment facilities with mandarory hookups. Regulation of powerboat size and #. Hows that for starters?

[ITD]

Originally Posted by mg2107

Moratorioum on lakeside construction. Sewer treatment facilities with mandarory hookups. Regulation of powerboat size and #. Hows that for starters?

Plus statewide tax to pay for it all, it is the people's lake after all.

[jrc]

Originally Posted by mg2107

Moratorioum on lakeside construction. Sewer treatment facilities with mandarory hookups. Regulation of powerboat size and #. Hows that for starters?

Let's take the easy ones first:
Mandatory Sewer treatment- Expensive but feasible. NH government could craft a law that forced this to happen. Will be problem for islands. I'm sure underwater sewage lines are technically possible but very expensive.

Regulation of powerboat size- feasible, NH government could craft a law that limited size. They could even make exceptions for the tour boats. It sure would be unpopular.

Regulation of powerboat numbers- How could this be implemented? I'm sure the government could come up with lake access stickers and police their use, but how do you decide who gets them? Lottery? Auction? Heredity? Lakefront land ownership? NH Residence?

Moratorium- This one is of course the toughest. Who and by what authority could implement and enforce this? Would each town change there building codes or zoning laws? Would NH DES declare that the lake was so overburdened that not one more house could be built, and refuse to issue permits? I think this one is politically impossible.

[ApS]

While I've been supportive of a comprehensive Greater-Winnipesaukee sewer system, Gilford doesn't seem to have its own large system in order yet:

[Today's Citizen, excerpted]"...The most recent sewer leak occurred on May 28 and 29, and involved the repair of a three-inch hole in the 24-inch ductile iron line. A 2,000-foot length of force main lying west of the Gilford pump station has been the subject of a number of repairs since 1992 due to external corrosion from aggressive soils..."
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...-1/citizen0102

Gilford had a monster break into Winnipesaukee back in '96 or '99. (I forget just when, but it was millions of gallons, and when their system was only a few years old).

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

"...2. A system that is in constant use should be pumped out every two years. Any suggestions for one that is used only in the summer...?"

Florida mails annual updates to lakefront property owners that recommend a pumpout every three years. Florida maintains no lakefront tree-retaining requirements like New Hampshire's, but does have seawall restrictions and restrictions on lake weed removal. However, it also has roadside billboards with "Nuisance Lake Weed Removal" services. (Maybe this is a "compromise" that's "good for business"? )

For Winnipesaukee—at minimum—a pumpout every time a property changes hands is in order, even if "the intent" is to rebuild: That new property near me was built into a pre-existing septic system . Does that require a "seller's disclosure", I wonder?

An old friend who keeps me up to date on such matters tells me that "The Basin" in Tuftonboro was free of vegetation before it became ringed with houses having septic systems. Today, of course, "The Basin" looks like lettuce soup.

Originally Posted by Misty Blue

"...Come on guys. You know that we are all plumbers at heart...."

Now ain't that the truth?