Saranac Lake Ordered to Clean Up Water Supply

Saranac Lake has 18 months starting Sept. 18th to either install a water filtration system to filter McKenzie Pond water or find another source of drinking water.

In 1989, the Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule was enacted that said that water taken from surface sources, like lakes and ponds, must be filtered unless it met strict criteria. In December 1991, Saranac Lake received filtration avoidance approval, which was contingent upon continuing to meet the criteria. It failed to meet the criteria then tested in March, after which the Health Department rescinded the filtration avoidance status.

A water filtration system is estimated to cost $16 million.