Lake Information

By Lake Hopatcong Foundation: In this installment of our Lake-Friendly Living Guide, we share information on additional ways to eliminate pollutants from our waterways.

On Friday, September 20, 2019, the latest NJDEP testing on Lake Hopatcong shows that the Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) are down to just four major areas of the lake.

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroc’s Bill to Appropriate $4M Annually to the Lake Hopatcong Commission Moves Forward

In the following release from Jessica K. Murphy, President of Lake Hopatcong Foundation we find that Correspondent Anne Thompson from Weekend TODAY filmed” Lake Hopatcong’s place in the climate change discussion.” Using several local interviews.

This weekend the Hopatcong State Park will be filled the thrill and the excitement of the NJ State Powerboat Championships on September 14 - 15, 2019 from 11 - 5 PM.

LANDING, N.J. (September 12, 2019) — The seventh annual ‘Lake Loop’ for the benefit of Lake Hopatcong will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at Hopatcong State Park.

The Lake Hopatcong Station is one of the most iconic buildings in our community, linking us with an era when the lake was a great northeast resort and thousands arrived by train weekly headed for their hotel, campsite, or cottage.

Written by Jacqueline Dillon (Contributing Author): Americans throw out as much as 50 tons of waste every second. This trash is either burned or sent to landfill to rot in the ground. But the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of this rubbish is actually recyclable.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2019, the latest NJDEP testing on Lake Hopatcong showed that the remaining Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) are still not dissipating, but the main Lake is improving.

What is an alternative septic system?

An alternative septic system, which is commonly referred to as a wastewater treatment system, is a system that is different from the traditional style septic system. An alternative system may be required when the site and soil conditions on a property are limiting, or when the wastewater strength is too much for a particular site (i.e. restaurants).

Is special approval needed to install an alternative septic system?

Since 2012, local health departments can approve the use of these new types of technologies in certain applications. CLICK HERE for a complete list of advanced wastewater pretreatment device manufacturers pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.3. Since advanced wastewater treatment and disposal options are highly case-specific, NJ DEP encourages property owners to talk with vendors, manufacturers and their local authorized representatives directly.

Are there environmental benefits for alternative septic systems?

Although information about the environmental benefits for alternative septic systems can vary, NJ DEP has a wealth of information available on these alternate systems HERE.

There are some alternate septic systems which claim to remove phosphorus. Phosphorus has a direct impact on plant and algal growth in our lake – the more phosphorus, the more plants and algae there are in our lake. Even the smallest increase in phosphorus can impact the water quality in our lake.

According to the Lake Hopatcong Restoration Plan prepared by Princeton Hydro in 2006, which is currently being updated, the septic-based phosphorus load represents 52% of the total annual phosphorus load to Lake Hopatcong.

When exploring alternative septic system options, check with your engineering design firm or septic installer to inquire if the proposed system removes phosphorus.

Have alternative septic systems been installed within the Lake Hopatcong watershed?

According to information provided by the Departments of Health in Jefferson Township and Sussex County, various types of alternative septic systems have been installed within Hopatcong Borough and Jefferson Township. Although not a comprehensive list, here are a few manufacturers with alternative septic systems that have been installed within the watershed.

• Aero-Tech – aerotech-atu.com

• EcoFlo – ecoflobiofilter.com

• FugiClean USA –  fujicleanusa.com

• Hoot Aerobic Systems – hootsystems.com

• Norweco  – norweco.com

• Presby Environmental – https://presbyeco.com/

Next up in our Lake-Friendly Living Guide series: Eliminating Pollutants

Previous posts:

1. Lake-Friendly Living Guide: Stormwater Basics
2. Lake-Friendly Living Guide: Go Native! Install Vegetative Buffers and Rain Gardens
3. Lake-Friendly Living Guide: Smart Lawn Care
4. Lake-Friendly Living Guide: Fertilizers, Phosphorus, and Water Quality
5. Lake-Friendly Living Guide: Septic Maintenance

The following article was written by local lake expert John Kurzman, where he studies the HAB cyanobacteria levels on Lake Hopatcong in 2018 and 2019, and asks the question. Why now, 2018 was worse than 2019.