OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Pictured is Fredonia Village Hall.

The North County Water District is looking to buy water from Fredonia.

Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek told the village Board of Trustees last week the district “was requesting water purchase from us through the connection on Route 20 and Sheridan. They have some new water lines and a tank that need to be tested. A pumping station in the city of Dunkirk is not completed yet, so they can’t fill it that way.”

Essek said he had spoken to Randy Woodbury, city of Dunkirk Department of Public Works head, about the situation. He noted that the city is normally the sole supplier of water to the North County Water District.

However, the mayor said, “in certain situations other providers can (offer water) in an emergency. They’re going to deem this an emergency.” The city will provide a one-time memorandum of agreement about the purchase, he added.

Trustee Michelle Twichell expressed concerns one of Fredonia’s own holding tanks, on Webster Road, needs a computer component. Essek said that a replacement is shipped and on its way.

“This project isn’t something that’s starting right now, they’re looking a couple weeks down the road,” Essek said. It will be “two or three thousand gallons of water,” he said. The water can be added to the North County Water District pipes over “several days or weeks,” according to Trustee Jon Espersen, who also consulted with Woodbury.

The mayor said he expected Dunkirk’s proposal for the purchase within a week. He promised to share it with trustees and Mark Guglielmi, an attorney for village law firm Webster Szanyi.

“Everybody’s on board, there’s no confusion. Everybody knows this has to be done and everybody’s on board with it — the city, the North County Water District and us,” Essek concluded.