Septic Engineer in Cazenovia, NY

Cazenovia septic design, in short

On Cazenovia Lake the septic system is not just a homeowner's problem. The Town of Cazenovia's 2012 study, Sewers and Lake Health, estimated that about half of the phosphorus reaching the lake comes from shoreline septic systems, and testing found septic affected groundwater entering the lake. The town also reports several confirmed harmful algal blooms on the lake last season. A new or replacement system near the water should be designed with that in mind. Backwell coordinates the tests, design, permits and installation. Designs are prepared and stamped by a New York licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

Sewer around the lake and the village

The Town of Cazenovia runs a Water Pollution Control Facility and a Consolidated Sanitary Sewer District, upgraded in 2023 with new clarifiers and a switch from chlorine to UV disinfection. The Village of Cazenovia bills sewer rent at 30 percent of water consumption where it applies (2024 rate schedule).

The same 2012 study noted that wastewater indicators were absent where sanitary sewers serve, and it proposed a Northeast Lake sewer and water district, a West Lake district and septic management districts for the Owaghena and Overlook areas. We have not confirmed which of those were built, so the first step on any lake parcel is checking whether a sewer is available. Away from the lake, in New Woodstock, Delphi Falls, Rippleton, Ballina, North Cazenovia, Chittenango Falls, Delphi Station, Juddville, Abell Corners, Union and West Woodstock, private septic is the norm. Cazenovia Lake drains out its outlet into Chittenango Creek, which runs north to Oneida Lake, so what reaches the lake does not stay local.

Cazenovia soils

Cazenovia has some of the better septic ground in Madison County. USDA soil data for a town sample ranks Honeoye, Lima, Cazenovia, Lansing, Palmyra, Appleton and Mardin at the top. About 62 percent is rated Very limited for absorption fields and 28 percent Somewhat limited, the lowest Very limited share of the towns sampled. The county as a whole runs about 81 percent Very limited.

• Honeoye: well drained limy till, bedrock deeper than 60 inches. Often fine for a conventional field.
• Lima: moderately well drained, limestone influenced till that can be dense, with low to moderately high conductivity below.
• Cazenovia: moderately well drained till, bedrock deeper than 40 inches.
• Lansing: well drained but with slow internal drainage.
• Mardin on the higher ground: fragipan starting 14 to 26 inches down, seasonal water table typically 14 to 24 inches.

Better ground does not mean every lot passes. A Mardin hilltop near New Woodstock and a Honeoye field near the village can need different systems.

Lakefront design choices

Appendix 75-A keeps absorption fields, raised systems and mounds 100 feet from a lake, stream or wetland, and 100 feet from wells. On narrow lake lots that line often decides everything. Where the soil is thin or wet, a raised system or mound adds separation. Where nutrient load is the worry, an enhanced treatment unit ahead of the field is one route. Designs outside the standard trench go to Madison County Public Health for review as alternative systems. See lakefront septic design and enhanced treatment septic design.

Steps in Cazenovia

1. Send the address. Estimate in 1 hour.
2. Tests. A 6 foot deep hole and at least two perc tests. Madison County Public Health lists observing these tests among its services.
3. Design. 110 gallons per day per bedroom, tanks from 1,000 gallons.
4. Town application. The Town of Cazenovia's Application for Construction or Modification of Residential Septic System, filed with Planning, Building and Codes at 7 Albany Street (Gothic Cottage). Plans must meet state health department rules. Site work near the lake may also need a land disturbance or site plan permit, and the town publishes Cazenovia Lakefront Development Guidelines.
5. County review. Alternative systems go to Madison County Public Health, 138 N Court Street, Wampsville, at least 30 days before construction with $125 and 2 plan sets.
6. Install. Nothing starts before the permit is issued and fees are paid.

What it costs, and the grant

Cazenovia is the one place in Madison County where the septic replacement grant clearly applies. The county's Septic System Replacement Fund reimburses 50 percent of eligible costs, up to $10,000, after installation, for failing or likely to fail systems within 250 feet of Cazenovia Lake or listed tributaries. Design flow must be 1,000 gallons per day or less, and new construction is not eligible. The state's eligible list for the county names Cazenovia Lake, tributaries to Cazenovia Lake and the upper Canastota Creek.

We do not publish an average price. Send the address for a written price in 1 hour, itemized so it can go with a grant application.

Timeline

Testing takes a day. County review of alternative systems needs 30 days before construction. Grant money is paid after installation, so plan the cash flow. Installation itself takes days.

Sources

• Town of Cazenovia, Planning, Building and Codes Enforcement
• Town of Cazenovia, Sewers and Lake Health (2012)
• Town of Cazenovia, Cazenovia Lake health
• NYSDEC ENB, Town of Cazenovia WPCF improvements (2023)
• Village of Cazenovia, water and sewer
• NYS DOH, 10 NYCRR Appendix 75-A
• Madison County Public Health, water and septic individual systems
• Madison County, alternative household wastewater treatment system application
• Madison County, Septic System Replacement Fund
• NYSDEC, SSRP eligible waterbodies, Madison County
• USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey and Soil Data Access (Madison County, NY053)
• USDA NRCS, Honeoye series
• USDA NRCS, Lima series
• USDA NRCS, Mardin series