Fredonia appears ready to take the plunge when it comes to being a part of the Northern Chautauqua County Water District.

During Thursday afternoon’s meeting at the Fireside Manor, County Executive George Borrello addressed water district board members about the possibility of adding the village as an additional supplier that is already contracted to rely heavily on water from Dunkirk. “To have an emergency back-up from water that does not come from Lake Erie is, I think, a good strategic plan for us,” he said in making his request.

While open to the idea, water district board members are proceeding with caution. They remember, they noted more than once, being rebuffed by previous Village Boards despite promises from officials they would be part of a district.

Village Mayor Athanasia Landis said the current Fredonia board is aware of the potential entry back to the district and is in favor of the move.

“I’m very excited about it,” she said. “I would very much like the village of Fredonia in the district. … Regional solutions, overall, have more power than individual municipalities.”

Fredonia’s water system is facing a number of structural issues — and has increased rates steeply in recent years. Much of the hikes are due to the exit of the Carriage House facilities, but the infrastructure also has gone unmaintained.

Borrello told water district members another supplier is necessary. “The capacity that we have right now, … is only going to supply the district as it sits right now,” Borrello said. “With growth into new areas, growth of a more industrial base, we will not have the supply even with the expansion of Dunkirk to meet those future needs.”

With the city as a main supplier, the board had been considering the use of the Erie County Water Authority as a secondary source. Currently, both Silver Creek and Hanover are receiving water from that agency. However, the Erie County Water Authority has been under a dark cloud regarding mismanagement and political favoritism.

“We cannot depend on Erie County water, in my opinion, if we want to attract a large user of water, whether it be another food processing plant or something like that,” the county executive noted.

After going into executive session, water district board members requested a meeting between Landis, the Fredonia trustees as well as Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and council members. That gathering could take place as early as sometime in July.