Cochecton Faces Costly $1M Sewage System Overhaul After DEC Violations

The Town of Cochecton has received several violations for its sewage treatment plant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with estimates to upgrade the treatment facilities topping over $1 million.

In a November 2025 letter to Town Supervisor Gary Maas, the DEC outlined a series of violations at the Lake Huntington Water Treatment Plant on Olsen Road, including excessive scum accumulation at the sewage tank that developed into a “hardened crust,” overgrown grass above the sand filters, necessary lab building renovations due to health and safety concerns, and absent foot gratings and railings in several areas. The DEC noted unsatisfactory violations during its two inspections last June and October.

Town of Cochecton Acting Supervisor Ed Grund told Radio Catskill that the Town reached a crossroads with its aging infrastructure after years of temporary repairs, with the DEC requiring the sewage sandbeds to be fully replaced. The town’s sandbed infrastructure hasn’t received major upgrades since the 1930s, he says.

Grund said there is no contamination or public health risk facing residents. “Everything is working. It’s just getting to the point where [the system’s] getting worn out,” he said.

The Lake Huntington Water Treatment Plant serves about 250 households, along with the Sullivan West Central School District buildings on Route 52 in Lake Huntington.

Cochecton is one of several local villages and towns in Sullivan County grappling with how to tackle its aging water infrastructure. Sullivan County Democrat reported both Liberty and Monticello are gearing up to overhaul their water treatment plants this year, with Monticello’s project estimated at roughly $38 million and financed through a mix of grant funding and loans.

County legislators also greenlit a countywide groundwater study with Labella Associates, D.P.C., in January to assess the county’s availability of clean water.

If the DEC’s violations remain unaddressed, Cochecton could face hefty penalties of up to $37,500 per day per violation. But the DEC told Radio Catskill that the state agency is cooperating with town officials to maintain facility operations.

“DEC is working closely with the Town to bring the facility into compliance and to ensure the full protection of public health and the environment,” said a DEC spokesperson.

Town prepares for a nearly century-old sewage upgrade

The Town of Cochecton’s sewage treatment relies on four sandbeds – about 30 inches deep – that filter and purify wastewater contaminants using layers of sand. The plant’s treated wastewater then feeds into the Ten Mile River Tributary as its receiving waters, according to state data .

But the DEC notes in their violations that all sand beds were overgrown with grass and that “no sand was visible,” which could impact water filtration flow and performance.

The Town Board is now preparing to replace all four sandbeds, but how the Town will pay for the project remains a central question. Town Engineer Darren Doetsch of Pitingaro & Doetsch Consulting Engineers, P.C. estimates that replacing each sandbed could cost $295,527, totalling more than $1.18 million to replace all four beds.

Grund says the Town Board is weighing their options and have discussed various financing options, including grant funding, bonds, and loans. It’s unclear if or how much homeowners and the Sullivan West School District in the town’s sewer district will foot the project bill, he says.

The next Town of Cochecton Town Board Meeting is on April 8.

Image: The Town of Cochecton Town Board at the March 11 Board Meeting in Cochecton, N.Y. (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)