MAYVILLE — The Chautauqua County Health Department has been made aware of the taste and odor issues that customers of the village of Fredonia water supply are experiencing. The Environmental Health unit has been working with village officials and has determined that the water is safe for water customers to consume and use.

Flushing is currently being completed throughout the village of Fredonia and town of Pomfret water districts to facilitate clearing any discolored water from the distribution system. At the direction of the Health Department, the village of Fredonia will continue flushing and increase bacteriological monitoring in areas of the distribution system where these water quality issues are being reported.

Results of the initial investigation indicate there may be multiple factors that are leading to problems with taste, odor, and discoloration in the drinking water. These include:

¯ The village of Fredonia recently purchased water from and sold water to the City of Dunkirk through an interconnection between the two municipalities. Additionally, water demand in the village has increased significantly due to the increase of SUNY Fredonia’s population. All of these scenarios have an impact on flow direction in the Village’s distribution system, which can result in tuberculation in the water main to turn the water discolored accompanied with an iron-like metallic taste.

¯ Water temperature in the Village’s drinking water reservoir has increased. An increase in temperature may result in an increase in microbial growth that can lead to minor taste and odor issues, even after being adequately treated in the water treatment plant.

A major multi-million dollar capital project is underway at the water plant, and there is currently only a portion of the water plant in operation. Results of a recent inspection by the Health Department show that the water plant is, and has been, treating the water to comply with state DOH treatment standards. It is anticipated that the majority of the capital project will be completed later this week or early next week, and the Health Department expects the water quality throughout the Village to continuously improve.

If residents experience any odor, taste, or discolored water, please contact the village of Fredonia Department of Public Works and further water quality monitoring will be conducted.

For more information, please contact the Village of Fredonia at (716) 679-2304 or the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Health Department at (716) 753-4481 or check the Village’s website at https://www.villageoffredoniany.com/