MAYVILLE — Residents in the village of Mayville are being advised not to use water for drinking, cooking, food preparation or animal consumption after a chemical was discovered in the village’s wells Wednesday evening.

In an advisory issued 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 county and the state are working together,” County Executive PJ Wendel told The Post-Journal and OBSERVER Thursday. “It’s been a combined effort. We’re moving things along to try and get water into the community. This has been moving quickly and we do have a plan in place.”

Bottled and canned water distribution will continue Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Town of Chautauqua DPW Garage at 50 Patterson Street in Mayville.

The release said that Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to deploy 10 pallets of water from the Hamburg, N.Y. stockpile on Thursday to support residents of the village of Mayville. Each pallet contains 2,400 12-ounce cans of water.

Any persons in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 should not leave their homes to pick up water. Should no one be available to bring water to those in isolation or quarantine, those individuals are expected to call 753-4491. Residents must stay in their vehicles at the site and water will be limited to one case per household per day. Those unable to pick up water during the allotted times should call John Buxton with the village of Mayville at (716) 269-4801 to make alternate arrangements. Future distribution dates and sites are being planned, the county 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.