Taxpayers Dig Peach Lake ‘Out of the Muck’

Eric Gross Four hundred fifty families residing at Peach Lake will finally be getting relief.

For more than 40 years the residents of Southeast and North Salem have witnessed their lake deteriorate due to failing septic systems that caused raw sewage being discharged directly into the lake. This resulted in pollution, strong odors, and the discharge of phosphorus, which has reduced the oxygen content of the lake, causing an increase in algae and weeds that have taken a toll on aquatic life.

Last Saturday, Congressman John Hall presented the supervisors of both communities— Michael Rights of Southeast and Warren Lucas of North Salem—with checks that will help fund a $24 million project to replace failing septic systems by creating a new wastewater treatment plant and collection system. The new network will have an average daily flow of 170 gallons for the 450 homes.

Southeast received $1.9 million, while North Salem, which comprises the majority of the community, received $5 million.

(l-r) Southeast Councilman Dwight Yee, Assemblyman Greg Ball, and Southeast Supervisor Michael Rights. MICHAEL BRENDAN DOUGHERTY During a glorious late-November afternoon, Hall told the 150 attendees gathered at a ceremonial groundbreaking that “funds come from federal stimulus money as well as other federal grants. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create 30 construction jobs here at Peach Lake over the next two years, along with a handful of maintenance and operation jobs that will upgrade infrastructure while improving the health and safety of local residents.”

Tom Duffy, chairman of the Peach Lake Coalition, described the occasion as “history-making. We’ve been mired in muck for too many years. These funds will assist the community greatly without breaking the backs of its residents.”

Fr. David Nolan of St. John the Evangelist in Beacon (left) and St. Lawrence O’Toole’s Fr. Robert McKeon at Peach Lake. Fr. McKeon blessed the lake during the groundbreaking ceremony. MICHAEL BRENDAN DOUGHERTY Organizers of the ceremony passed out silver shovels to officials and residents who have been involved in the project for many years.

State Senator Vincent Leibell was in attendance, along with other elected officials from Putnam and Westchester. The senator had some advice to the two municipalities: “At home, in Albany and in Washington, it’s no secret that a lot of budget problems exist. My advice is to cash those checks right away.”

The audience roared with laughter.