Westside Water and Sewer Initiative

From: Orange Lake Homeowners Association
Re: Westside Water and Sewer Initiative
September 18, 2023

Dear Westside Orange Lake Homeowner,

We, the Orange Lake Homeowners Association (OLHA), are reaching out with a progress report about our initiative to add municipal water and sewer to our community on the west side of Orange Lake. We have been working steadily on trying to move this project forward for many years and we are, finally, seeing the fruition of our actions.

The OLHA, in cooperation with the Town of Newburgh (TON), has determined that addressing the failing septic systems of the west side neighborhood is the priority in countering the pollution of our drinking water and of Orange Lake itself. 

The recommended alternative (according to the Sewer Feasibility Study prepared and completed by the engineering firm, CT Male, Jan 2023) is a proposed low-pressure sewer system design that connects the west side neighborhood to the TON crossroads sewer district. The estimated cost per resident for this project far exceeds the cost that NYS audit and contract permits. However, there is potential assistance via a NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement (WQIP) grant that, if awarded, could provide substantial grant money to help us fund the cost of this major project. 

The OLHA, in partnership with TON, approved funding for the DEC WQIP grant application to be prepared by CT Male. The application was submitted in August 2023 and awards will be announced in December 2023. 

If we receive enough funding to make this project possible, TON will have a three-year window to use the funding. At that point, TON will determine whether to proceed by: 1. Town Resolution, 2. Petition from homeowners, or 3. Referendum vote.  It is most likely they will proceed with the petition option and so the interest and commitment of westside homeowners will be of the utmost importance.  

The west side homeowners will be responsible for paying for whatever the grant does not cover. However, it is important to note that the state comptroller establishes an (average) allowable annual threshold for individual cost per household for a municipal sewer project, currently between $800-$900/yr. This threshold can be exceeded in cases of need and request by residents. 

Of course, everyone’s top question is, “How much is this going to cost me?” Unfortunately, there are many factors that complicate a simple answer to that question. Until we know if and how much grant money we are awarded, it is impossible to say. 

All in all, we have made good progress and, as a result of our persistence and efforts, are now in good standing for potentially receiving the WQIP grant award at the end of this year. 

If all goes well and we DO receive substantial enough funding we will then poll the westside property owners to determine interest and commitment to this project. We will need westside homeowners totaling 51% of assessed property values to be in accord with this plan in order to petition the TON to form a sewer district. If enough homeowners are NOT behind it, it’s likely that the project will not go forward.

Ultimately, it will be up to TON to determine if this project is “in the best public interest.” In other words, TON has final power over whether to do this project or not. However, as we have seen, our interest, motivation, and commitment as a community does influence their decision.

We will be presenting this progress report at the annual meeting of the OLHA on Wednesday September, 27, 2023; 7PM at Dan Leghorn fire house and will do our best to answer your questions at that time. 

If you would like to know more about this project, please contact OLHA Vice President, Kevin Sterling at ktsterling@gmail.com; or OLHA Secretary, Dahlia Cabe at dabacabe@gmail.com

Yours Truly,

Dahlia Bartz Cabe and The West Side Water and Sewer Initiative Team