Residents along Cayuga Lake’s eastern shoreline will have a chance next week to hear details and ask questions about a proposed sewer expansion project aimed at protecting water quality in the Finger Lakes.
The Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority will host a public informational meeting June 2 at Southern Cayuga School in Aurora to outline its proposed Cayuga Lake Protection Plan, which would create a new sewer district serving portions of the towns of Ledyard and Genoa.
The proposal calls for the installation of a low-pressure sewer system along roughly nine miles of Cayuga Lake shoreline. Wastewater collected from homes in the district would be transported to the Village of Aurora’s wastewater treatment plant for processing.
Officials say the project is intended to reduce potential pollutant loads entering Cayuga Lake from lakeside residential properties as harmful algal blooms and broader water quality concerns continue affecting the Finger Lakes region.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and include a presentation, question-and-answer session, and informational displays. Project experts will also be available to speak directly with residents.
Supporters of the plan argue the sewer system would help protect Cayuga Lake as a drinking water source while improving long-term conditions for swimming, boating, fishing, and other recreational uses.
The project comes as New York continues investing in lake protection efforts statewide, including research and infrastructure projects aimed at reducing nutrient pollution from multiple sources.
Residents living within the proposed sewer district are scheduled to vote on the proposal during a referendum June 23.
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