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Residents in the village of Mayville are being advised not to use water for drinking, cooking, food preparation or animal consumption.
In an advisory by the New York State Department of Health, working with the Chautauqua County Health Department, residents were notified that samples from three wells indicated the presence of the chemical perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) at levels between 75 and 330 parts per trillion (ppt). PFNA is an emerging contaminant with only a limited amount of health data and is not monitored or regulated at the federal or state levels.
The developing information about potential health risks from the ingestion of PFNA have led state and local health officials to take the precaution of switching to an alternate drinking water supply. The determination has been made that both interim and long-term measures to reduce exposure to these chemicals are prudent.
According to a statement released Thursday, water continues to be acceptable for household uses such as showering, bathing, cleaning and washing dishes. Boiling water will not remove the chemicals, the county Health Department said.
The Chautauqua County Health Department will host a town hall on Friday 9-10 a.m. Attendees also include County Executive PJ Wendel, OES director John Griffith, Sheriff James Quattrone, Mayville Mayor Ken Shearer and representatives from the New York State Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation.
The meeting can be viewed by remote access online at: https://www.facebook.com/myhealthycounty/. Questions may be submitted via email prior to the meeting to cchealth@co.chautauqua.ny.us and during the meeting in the comments box of the Facebook live video.
The village is working closely with the county and ctate to provide water as an immediate step to assist customers. Bottled and canned water will be available for pick-up at the town of Chautauqua DPW Garage at 50 Patterson St. in Mayville as follows:
• Thursday, Dec. 10; 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 11; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 12; 10:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m.