There is no mandatory septic system inspection or any state testing or monitoring for the 6,000 septic systems along the Lake George basin.

While Lake George, known as the “Queen of American Lakes,” is still quite healthy, last fall the community got a taste of the problems that could plague the lake — and its tourism economy — if action isn’t taken immediately. 

“We had our first reported Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) at Lake George last fall,” Eric Siy, executive director of the FUND for Lake George, told Capital Tonight. 

HABs are caused by the dumping of nitrogen and phosphorus into a water body like a lake; the chemicals lower a lake’s oxygen levels and wreak ecological havoc. 

The nitrogen and phosphorus that HABs feed upon come from the human waste deposited into the lake by aging septic systems. 

“The Lake George Park Commission has the statutory authority to implement a basin-wide septic program, so let’s just do this,” Siy said. 

When asked why the Lake George Park Commission hasn’t addressed the septic issues before now, Siy said there is some question about the science behind the need for a mandatory septic management program.

“We have a different opinion. We being the FUND (for Lake George). Research shows that we have a problem,” Siy said.

New York State is offering matching grant to qualified homeowners who replace or update their septic systems. There is also no-interest financing available. For more information visit either fundforlakegeorge.org or safesepticsystems.org.