OBSERVER Photo by Anthony Dolce Pictured is a water distribution event that took place earlier this week.

The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting progress in the Mayville water health emergency.

Last week, the health department issued a “Do not drink” order for residents who get their water from the Maville water system, including village residents and Chautauqua town residents who use the village’s system.

According to Christine Schuyler, county public health director and commissioner of Social Services, a new well was put into service Monday and is currently pumping clean water into the system. “The water has been tested, it’s free of contaminants and it’s free of bacteria. It’s being chlorinated according to state regulations,” she said Wednesday during a Facebook update.

The village has begun flushing the water system, using this new well. “This process flushes out the old water and you may notice some discolor or cloudy water while the process is occurring,” Schuyler said. “This is completely normal.”

The village is also replacing the water in its storage tank with the new well water. “Residents will be instructed to flush their household plumbing once the water system flushing is completed,” she said.

The county health department also mailed letters to 30 residents who use wells that are nearby the village’s water system, offering them private well testing. Sampling will take take place over the weekend.

Unlike boil water orders, county health officials said the contaminants cannot be “boiled out,” so this order is a “do not drink.” The water can be used for washing and bathing.

The village continues to provide bottled water for residents, businesses and the Chautauqua Lake Central School District. Residents may go to the Chautauqua DPW Garage at 50 Patterson St. from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. daily through Saturday. Water will also be given out at the Mayville Tops Parking lot Friday from 2:30-6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone unable to pick up water due to COVID-19 precautions should call 753-4491. Schuyler said if the order lasts longer than this weekend, the county will help the village procure more bottled water.

Schuyler said the state Department of Environmental Conservation is actively looking for the source of this contamination. “Additional sampling and drilling activities by the DEC and its contractors will continue throughout the coming days,” she said.