Dye Testing is Back: Important to support your lake association

The Town of Webb Office of Code Enforcement tackles some frequently asked questions

Protecting our waters

The annual dye testing program has started. Anyone who has owned water front property for a couple of years is familiar with the program.

Some property owners can remember the program back into the 1960’s… and that includes yours truly!

Not trying to divulge age, many fond memories were lodged in this old head, of my Dad and I going around Big Moose Lake and using a liquid dye and testing the septic systems of willing neighbors.

And in those early years dye was revealing contamination more often than one might think.

Recently, a test was completed on a camp on Fourth Lake. The owners can recall the ’60s and the whole reason for starting the testing program… there was substantial pollution of the lake, some of it floating visibly like little bogs or plumes with sludge and greasy looking yuk sticking to boats, docks, fish and yourself if you tried to swim or water ski.

Not a good visual, is it?

Back in those years many direct pipes to the lake were discovered. The more of these situations that were discovered the more awareness as to the issue.

And more awareness created more peer pressure to correct the problem.

If it was not for the foresight, efforts, time and expense incurred by the Fulton Chain of Lakes Property Owner’s Association and the Big Moose Lake Property Owner’s Association back in the 1960’s, the cleanliness of our waters may not be as good as it is today.

For almost fifty years both lake associations have been actively involved in hiring staff, overseeing the work and monitoring the results.

The program has always been supported by the town.

Through the years, as the program gained momentum and started to show results, the town’s role became clearer.

Now, for the past six years, the program is substantially administered through the Code Office.

This does not mean that the lake associations are out of the picture. Not at all!

They administer many other tests and projects that are beyond dye testing.

If it were not for the continued support and help of key members of the associations, the town could not do the program very effectively.

This support comes in the form of money & funding, helping to find staff, and some physical help by getting to some boat-access-only properties.

Dye testing is a small piece, in a huge puzzle, of an ongoing effort, by the lake associations and the town, to protect one of our most valuable natural resources…our lakes.

Some other issues that the associations deal with are invasive species (milfoil), water clarity, acid rain, water testing and lab work.

Dye testing clearly is not the only method to check a septic system.

There are way too many other variables that can impact the proper treatment of wastewater. The age and condition of septic tanks, proximity to ground water or the depth of bedrock and impervious soils are all contributing factors.

The depth of a drywell or a seepage pit usually is well into ground water… think about that for a minute. There should be a four foot separation minimally!

The program benefits everyone, whether you have waterfront property or not.

Have you considered joining your lake association and supporting the ongoing efforts to maintain the quality of water that you swim, ski, boat or otherwise enjoy?

You should.