{"id":33505,"date":"2020-08-14T09:49:04","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T13:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=33505"},"modified":"2020-08-14T14:02:20","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T18:02:20","slug":"fund-for-lake-george-program-to-help-people-upgrade-septic-systems-around-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/08\/fund-for-lake-george-program-to-help-people-upgrade-septic-systems-around-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"FUND For Lake George Program To Help People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
A worker pumps out a septic system in the Lake George area.
Courtesy FUND for Lake George<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Expanding on its role in protecting Lake George from failing and aging septic and wastewater treatment systems, The FUND for Lake George unveiled a new basin-wide program dedicated to equipping and empowering property owners to ensure every private septic system in the basin is performing as needed to keep the Lake clean and healthy.
\n\u201cOne of the greatest threats to Lake George\u2019s legendary water quality is the increasing levels of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen escaping from failing and aging septic systems and treatment plants,\u201d said Eric Siy, executive director of The FUND for Lake George.
\n\u201cThe increased nutrients pose a risk for the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs) like those that have devastated lake ecologies and economies across New York state and the country.\u201d
\nThe Safe Septic System Program features:
\n\u2022 A no-interest\/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements in the Lake George basin in partnership with Adirondack Trust Co. and Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.;
\n\u2022 The SafeSepticSystems.org website, an online guide to help homeowners ensure their systems are not harming the Lake.
\n\u201cFortunately, Lake George property owners have it in their power to stop and reverse this intensifying threat. Every system counts, and The FUND\u2019s new program will empower property owners to do their part, from fixing to financing, in keeping their septic systems safe and our Lake protected,\u201d said Siy.
\nCentral to this comprehensive program is the new no-interest\/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements. Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and Adirondack Trust Co. have each developed special financing programs for qualified property owners whose septic systems need to be replaced. The lifespan of a typical septic system is 30-40 years, and replacement costs can range from $17,000-$30,000, depending on system specifications, size requirements, and site conditions.
\nAdirondack Trust is offering no-interest loans for qualifying property owners in certain areas of the Southern Basin. For more information, please call Matthew Harrison, vice president of residential lending, at (518) 584-5844, ext. 2222.
\nGlens Falls National is offering an array of low-interest loans to qualifying property owners throughout the entire Basin. For more information, please call Helen Tobias, branch manager of the Lake George office, at (518) 668-5461.
\n\u201cPeople take on a very special responsibility when owning a septic system on Lake George,\u201d said William Creighton, vice chairman of The FUND\u2019s board of trustees, who worked closely with the banks in establishing the loan program. \u201cAt the same time, The FUND recognizes that replacement costs can be an obstacle to fulfilling this responsibility, particularly for families whose properties have been handed down from generation-to-generation.
\n\u201cWe are tremendously grateful that these community-focused banks recognize this challenge\u2014and the importance of a healthy Lake George to our regional economy\u2014and have stepped up with the future of our Lake in mind.\u201d
\nCharles V. Wait, Jr., president and CEO of Adirondack Trust said the project \u201creinforces one of our core beliefs: taking care of our local communities. We are pleased that we can provide a lending option that will help local homeowners and small businesses improve their standard of living, while preserving the \u2018Queen of American Lakes\u2019 for generations to come. It is this type of innovative partnership that provides quality of life and economic benefits for all, and we are very proud to be part of this initiative.\u201d
\nMarc Yrsha, senior vice president of Glens Falls National Bank said they are pleased to provide low-interest financing options to property owners for septic and water improvement systems.
\n\u201cLake George is a vital part of our local economy and we want to help residents maintain or update their systems to be environmentally sound and protect the lake,\u201d said Yesha.
\nIn addition to the loan program, The FUND\u2019s new Safe Septic System website provides easy-to-understand, step-by-step guidance for property owners to determine if their system is operating safely and how to properly maintain or replace it, officials said. Included are overviews of how various types of septic systems work, how to choose the right system for a property, and how to select qualified engineers and contractors.
\nOfficials said the need for the loan assistance and educational materials for septic system owners came to the forefront last year with the findings from a major assessment of near-shore systems in the town of Lake George, conducted in coordination by The FUND\u2019s Lake George Waterkeeper program, with funding from a state Department of Environmental Conservation grant.
\nThe assessment covered more than 400 septic systems that are within 500 feet of the lake and 100 feet of tributary streams and found that:
\n\u2022 Two-thirds of the systems were either near or past their estimated life expectancy or there was no information available on the age;
\n\u2022 Nearly one out of five systems were undersized for the required volume, which could result in premature system failure;
\n\u2022 More than half of the systems reviewed had no record of maintenance or pump-out, and\/or have never been pumped out;
\n\u2022 One in five systems utilize drywells that have reduced treatment efficiencies and have a greater potential for releasing pollutants into groundwater.
\nThese findings closely mirrored a prior Waterkeeper assessment of septic systems on Dunhams Bay in Queensbury and are likely to reflect system conditions in communities throughout the Lake\u2019s basin.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, septic systems can be a classic example of \u2018out of sight, out of mind,\u2019\u201d said Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Navitsky. \u201cMany people simply don\u2019t think about their system until it causes a problem in their home. Overlooked is what\u2019s happening underground and how it might be impacting the lake and its tributaries. We\u2019re sure people want to do the right thing when it comes to maintaining their systems and protecting the lake, and we\u2019re committed to doing everything we can to help them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Expanding on its role in protecting Lake George from failing and aging septic and wastewater treatment systems, The FUND for Lake George unveiled a new basin-wide program dedicated to equipping and empowering property owners to ensure every private septic system in the basin is performing as needed to keep the Lake clean and healthy. \u201cOne […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":33506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nFUND For Lake George Program To Help People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/08\/fund-for-lake-george-program-to-help-people-upgrade-septic-systems-around-lake\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FUND For Lake George Program To Help People Upgrade Septic Systems Around Lake - 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