\n\tLake George, situated within the Lake Champlain basin, is one of the cleanest lakes in the United States and is the largest lake wholly within New York State\u2019s Adirondack Park, the largest state park in the lower 48. Lake George is rated a Class-AA Special water body, which means it is drinking water for surrounding municipalities.<\/p>\n
\n\tLike all lakes, it suffers from nutrient-rich runoff from neighboring towns and developed land, including nitrogen. These nutrients feed harmful algal blooms and cyanobacteria. Like infrastructure across the country, the wastewater treatment plant that treats water flowing into Lake George from Bolton Landing, NY was built in the 1950s and lacks important treatment processes that need a modern upgrade. Specifically, the treatment plant\u2019s effluent is discharged into infiltration beds on the plant\u2019s property, then eventually enters the groundwater before subsequently ending up in Lake George through surface water.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn 2018, the town of Bolton constructed an experimental woodchip bioreactor to better treat the municipal wastewater. In 2019, LCSG funded a 27-month monitoring study\u00a0conducted by the Lake George Association,\u00a0Lake George Waterkeeper, and the Town of Bolton to monitor the bioreactor\u2019s impact on the wastewater plant\u2019s effluent and subsequently Lake George\u2019s water quality. Primarily used for tile drainage in agriculture on Midwest farms, this project was the first of its kind to adapt the woodchip bioreactor technology for municipal wastewater.<\/p>\n
\n\tSo, how does it work?<\/p>\n
\n\tWhen effluent flows into the underground bioreactor, it contains a high concentration of nitrates. Naturally present bacteria living on woodchips in the bioreactor seek oxygen from nitrate molecules in order to survive. This bacteria absorbs oxygen from the nitrate molecules, then releases only nitrogen gas, which \u2018cleans\u2019 the effluent water. When the treated water exits the bioreactor, it contains less nitrates than when it entered \u2013 nitrates that would otherwise end up negatively impacting Lake George\u2019s water quality. Watch this animation to see how this process works.<\/a><\/p>\n