Lake Telemark is a census-designated place of about 2.2 square miles, with 1,172 residents in 2020 and 464 housing units in 2010. It holds two small lakes, Lake Telemark near the center and Lake Ames to the south, joined by Hibernia Brook, which flows on toward the Rockaway River. The township library's history notes that the lakes are what drew resort development to Lake Telemark and Green Pond after the iron mines declined and mining land was sold to residents and summer visitors.
Density is the septic issue here. With roughly 200 homes per square mile in a place with no room to spare, many lots barely fit what state rules require: at least 50 feet from a well to a septic tank and 100 feet from a well to a disposal field. Those distances count your neighbor's well too. When a field fails, the question is often not how to fix it but where a new one can legally go.
State rules give engineers a little room. The well-to-field distance can be reduced to no less than 50 feet if the well has watertight casing to at least 100 feet or is sealed into an impervious layer. That is why a Lake Telemark engineer may ask for your well records before designing a replacement. If those records are missing, a well contractor may be able to determine the casing depth.
Day to day, small systems on lake lots need steady care. Septic tank pumping on a regular schedule, an effluent filter where one fits, and spreading laundry across the week keep solids out of a field that has no backup space. Watch for wet ground on the downhill side toward the lake or Hibernia Brook, a sewage smell after heavy rain, or toilets that slow down in spring. Calling a local pro early, while the problem is still a clogged baffle or a full tank, is far easier than finding room for a new field later.
Worth knowing in Lake Telemark
Lake Telemark had 1,172 residents in the 2020 census and 464 housing units in 2010, on about 2.18 square miles.
en.wikipedia.orgLake Telemark and Lake Ames are connected by Hibernia Brook, which flows south toward the Rockaway River.
en.wikipedia.orgState septic rules require 50 feet from a well to a septic tank and 100 feet to a disposal field, reducible to 50 feet if the well is cased watertight to at least 100 feet.
law.cornell.edu
Questions from Lake Telemark homeowners
My Lake Telemark lot is tiny. Can a replacement drain field fit?
Sometimes, with careful design. The engineer will map your well and nearby wells, check soils and look at whether your well casing qualifies for a reduced setback. Alternative treatment systems can also help on small lots.
How often should a small Lake Telemark system be pumped?
Rockaway Township's Division of Health suggests at least every three years for a family of four. Small or older tanks, or a busy household, may need it sooner.