By CRAIG FREILICH

STAR LAKE – A 20-year-old water filtration system has led to water use restrictions and a boil water alert for the hamlet of Star Lake.

The Town of Fine issued a boil-water alert yesterday for customers of the Star Lake system, along with fairly stringent water use limits which, if violated, could lead to hundreds of dollars in fines.

This is not first time such orders have been imposed, according to Fine Town Supervisor Mark Hall.

“We had the same thing last summer,” Hall said.

And it’s not as if a couple of days of rain will fix the problem. “We’ve got plenty of water,” Hall said, they just can’t process it fast enough.

“The demand is at its peak in the summertime when production is at its minimum,” Hall said. “And in the wintertime, we have great quality water,” when the old filtration system can keep up.

To keep water use low, the town is prohibiting non-essential water use, such as watering lawns and washing vehicles. They are also asking people to keep bathing to a minimum.

Violators may have water service turned off and are subject to a fine of up to $250 for the first offense and $500 for any subsequent offenses, according to the notice.

Meanwhile the lack of adequate filtration means residents in the hamlet and at Clifton-Fine Hospital will have to boil water for human consumption.

“When we need it the most, we can make the least. It’s a bad situation.”

It’s because “the filters are clogging in short intervals” under peak demand conditions.

Hall said the filtration system now in use was installed in the early 1990s. Much of the system, including most of the pipes and storage were built in the early 1950s.

The solution is not going to be quick one, Hall said.

The town will soon receive an engineering report they commissioned last year to see what has to be done to remedy the situation.

"We started it last summer. When it’s complete, then we go to the funding agencies, and then it’s in their hands,” Hall said.

“If we do get funded, we will put the job out to bid. Best case, maybe there’ll be some construction next summer,” but it probably would not be done then.

“Worst case, we don’t get funded, and then we have to reapply.”

Hall advises residents to check the Town of Fine webpage for updates, http://afineadirondacktown.org.