Here, you will find important measures to keep White Lake’s water quality pure and protect this precious resource. Please read thoroughly to learn how you can keep White Lake’s waters as clean as can be.

Basic Measures

Lawn Fertilization and Detergent Runoff

As January 1, 2012, this law prohibits the application of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus within 20 feet of any surface water except: where there is a vegetative buffer of at least 10 feet; or where the fertilizer is applied by a device with a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader at least three feet from surface water. The application of lawn fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium between December 1st and April 1 is also prohibited.

Fertilizer labels have three bold numbers. The number in the middle is the percentage of phosphorus in the product, e.g. 22-0-15. Use of products with 0.67 in the middle or lower is not restricted. Products with a number higher than 0.67 may only be used if a new lawn is being established or a soil test indicates it is necessary.

The law also prohibits the sale of phosphorus-containing dishwasher detergents for household use. See following for more information: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/67239.html

Septic System Maintenance

Septic systems are an efficient form of wastewater treatment when properly maintained. When overloaded, neglected, or incorrectly maintained, these systems are likely to fail, altering the delicate balance of our ecosystem and water quality. First signs of this are increased plant life, like blue-green algae by the water’s edge, and when this plant life flourishes, it contributes to the death of animal life due to lack of oxygen.

Know the layout of your septic system in relationship to your home, installation, service and service dates, etc.

Tips for keeping your septic system operating properly:

• Ensure usage matches septic capacity (e.g. a 4 person septic design cannot handle 12 renters).

• Conserve water and fix leaks. Conserving water is a key ingredient to a properly functioning septic system. Heavy water use forces solids and soil particles to clump and pack together. In turn, these clumps will clog drainfields, necessitating replacement of the entire septic system.

• Divert storm drains or basement pumps away from your system.

• Inspect tank every two to five years for sludge level.

• Pump tank when sludge level exceeds one third volume.

• Never build, drive on, pave over, or fertilize around your drainfield.

• Consult your septic system pumper to establish how often your particular usage requires service. Follow this schedule.

• Keep trees from growing around your leachfield. Plant shallow rooted plants around drainfield.

• DO NOT dispose of poisons, drain cleaners, bleach, paints, chemicals, disinfectants, grease, cigarette butts, hair, facial tissues, paper towels, sanitary napkins, motor oils, water softener waste, or band-aids into sinks or toilets.

Signs of septic system problems:

• Slow flushes, clogged drains, and toilets backing up

• Foul odors around septic tank or drainfield

• Wastewater surfacing around drainfield

• Dark green algae growth on rocks along shoreline

Bubblers and De-icers

Some property owners use a mechanical/electrical device that keeps ice from freezing around a dock or crib structure. Bubblers and De-Icers are designed to prevent the water around the structure from freezing with the intention of reducing the damaged caused by ice and fluctuating water levels. These devices provide an ice free zone by moving water in much the same way as a flowing stream does. If not properly installed or managed, these devices can create larger than necessary open water areas and thin ice. Many people may not understand the impacts these devices have on the environment, some of the danger involved, legal issues, or the social issues related to the use of these devices. 

A better understanding of these issues can greatly reduce these hazards, save energy, better protect your structure and the environment, while helping you to be better neighbor.

Impacts of De-icers:

• Thin ice created by these devices may provide unsafe conditions for recreation during the winter months

• De-icers create large open water areas that can lead to greater ice damage to a dock during the spring melt

• Lake water temperature and light conditions are altered by dock de-icers, which may have an impact on algae and plant growth, and alter feeding habits of fish and other aquatic organisms. Without a layer of ice and snow more light will reach the lake bed and can warm water temperature, promoting algae and weed growth, eventually killing off animal species.

• With more and more ice bubblers on the lake there is less of a winter ice freeze and more open, moving water. Because of this, beavers were able to swim in the open waters created by the bubblers. During the winter season of 2022-2023, nearly 175 shoreline trees were taken out by beavers, causing much destruction.

• Pond weeds in the lake are multiplying at a rapid rate due to warmer lake temperatures and the lack of a solid ice freeze caused by bubblers/deicers.

Key tips:

• Signage must be present and visible and must read "Danger, Thin Ice”.

• Do not opt for a circular de-icer, as they can create dangerously thin ice and are more disruptive to the surrounding area, adjacent properties, and contribute to more disruption for the lake and ecosystems; instead, choose a bubbler. These systems better target specific areas, are quieter, and are cheaper to operate.     

• When purchasing or replacing a bubbler, choose the smallest size possible to maintain an ice free zone around your dock.

• Set up your bubbler to form a narrow open water area around your dock creating space for ice to expand.

• Use a thermostat and timer to run the bubbler device only when air temperature drops below the freezing point and for a few hours a day; this will save energy, money, reduce noise impacts, and will help to prevent unintended areas of thin ice or open water.

Firewood Regulations

Please remember that there is a state Department of Environmental Conservation regulation that prohibits the movement of untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its source. The regulation also prohibits the importation of firewood into New York unless it has been treated to kill pests. If you have any questions regarding this firewood regulation, you can go to the DEC website – http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html