The Water & Sewer Department is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and long-term management of the Village’s public water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
The department works every day to provide safe, reliable drinking water, protect public health, maintain critical infrastructure, and ensure environmental compliance throughout the community.
The Village water system delivers potable drinking water through approximately 40 miles of water mains, while the sewer system includes approximately 33 miles of sanitary sewer infrastructure that conveys wastewater to the Village’s Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Route 3, approximately one mile northeast of the Village.
The Water & Sewer Department is responsible for:
Delivery of drinking water to Village residents and water district customers
Operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
Operation and maintenance of Village-owned lift stations
Inspection and maintenance of sanitary sewer mains
Maintenance of water mains and laterals to the curb stop or property line
Required DEC, EPA, and DOH testing, monitoring, and regulatory compliance
Daily water quality monitoring for disinfection and corrosion control
The department also maintains water and sewer infrastructure through agreements with the Towns of Harrietstown, St. Armand, and North Elba. The Wastewater Treatment Plant additionally accepts wastewater flows from the state and federal correctional facilities located in Ray Brook.
To set up a water or sewer account, pay your water or sewer bill, or for any other billing concerns, call 518-891-4150 ext. 232 during normal business hours from 7:30 AM - 4 PM Monday - Friday.
The Village of Saranac Lake annually issues a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources.
The Village water system consists of approximately 40 miles of infrastructure, including:
Transmission mains
Distribution mains
Service lines
Fire hydrants
Approximately 2,135 water meters
System infrastructure includes cast iron, ductile iron, and high-density polyethylene piping, with portions of the system dating from the 1950s to the present.
The Water & Sewer Division performs required daily monitoring and testing to ensure compliance with New York State Department of Health (DOH) and federal drinking water standards. Monitoring includes:
Chlorine residual testing for disinfection
Zinc orthophosphate monitoring for corrosion control
Water quality sampling and laboratory analysis
System inspections and maintenance
Sewer System
The Village sewer system consists of approximately 33 miles of infrastructure, including:
Gravity sewer mains
Force mains
Sewer lift stations
Sanitary manholes
Wastewater conveyance infrastructure
Portions of the sewer system date from the early 1900s through the present day and include clay tile, cast iron, and modern plastic piping materials.
The Water & Sewer Division routinely performs:
Sewer main inspections
Maintenance and cleaning
Lift station maintenance
Emergency repairs
Regulatory compliance monitoring
System improvement planning
Water & Sewer Billing
Water and sewer charges are billed quarterly.
If a due date falls on a weekend, payment is due on the preceding Friday.
Important Billing Information
Bills unpaid after the due date are charged 1.5% monthly interest on unpaid balances.
Outstanding Village accounts unpaid after April 30 may be re-levied onto Village property tax bills.
Outstanding district accounts unpaid after October 31 may be re-levied onto Town property tax bills.
The Village does not perform special meter readings for property closings.
Rates
The Village works to set water and sewer rates each year. To find out the current year's rates visit the Water and Sewer Rates Schedule.
1st Quarter: Due July 31 Covers March, April, and May Bills issued July 1
2nd Quarter: Due October 31 Covers June, July, and August Bills issued October 1
3rd Quarter: Due January 31 Covers September, October, and November Bills issued January 2
4th Quarter: Due April 30 Covers December, January, and February Bills issued April 1
Property Owner Responsibilities
Properties Within the Village
The Village owns and maintains the water service lateral from the water main to the curb stop or property line, whichever occurs first.
Property owners are responsible for:
Water service lines beyond the curb stop or property line
Interior plumbing
Purchasing water meters, if required
Protecting water meters from freezing or tampering
Repairing private-side leaks
Residents receive one courtesy meter inspection free of charge. Additional inspections may result in a service fee unless the meter is found to be defective.
Properties Outside the Village or Within Water Districts
Property owners are responsible for the water service lateral from the water main connection to the structure, including all associated plumbing and infrastructure.
The Water & Sewer Division responds to water and sewer emergencies, infrastructure failures, utility leaks, and publicly owned system issues.
Sewer Emergencies
If a sewer backup or clog occurs:
Contact the property owner
Determine whether the issue may be located within the building or private service line
Contact a licensed plumber if necessary
If the issue appears related to a publicly owned sewer main or infrastructure, contact the Village immediately.
Residents are also encouraged to report:
Overflowing manholes
Water main leaks
Sewer main failures
Utility emergencies
Emergency Contact Information
During Business Hours
Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Department of Public Works (518) 891-4160
Water & Sewer Department (518) 891-3037
After Hours Emergencies
Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department (518) 891-2333
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Village Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located on Route 3, treats an average daily flow of approximately 1.8 million gallons of wastewater.
The facility is operated in compliance with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and standards.
Treatment operations include:
Wastewater processing and treatment
Effluent quality monitoring
Laboratory testing and reporting
Sludge management and disposal
Environmental compliance activities
Residual sludge generated during treatment is transported to the Franklin County Landfill.
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