Dropping out?: Pomfret eyes greater supply from water district
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Fredonia's water system woes have it on the brink of losing customers from the neighboring town of Pomfret.
Town Board members suggested at their February meeting that they are interested in switching the water source for parts of the town's long-running infrastructure project. Referred to by officials as Phases 2 and 3, the project replaces pipes in areas of Pomfret directly to the south and west of Fredonia village limits.
Pomfret has several local water districts, in a somewhat confusing arrangement. In some places the town gets water from the North County Water District (supplied by the city of Dunkirk), in others Fredonia.
However, a representative of project engineer CPL pointed out to board members that new infrastructure recently installed around Berry Road would allow a switch of its source of water from Fredonia to the NCWD.
"We want to talk about coming to a consensus as we start to get ready to build this out," said Pomfret Deputy Supervisor Ann Eckman, running the meeting in lieu of Town Supervisor Dan Pacos, who unexpectedly had to miss it. Pacos is also chairman of the NCWD board.
"The village does not currently have the capacity to supply to Phase 2 or Phase 3. The engineering has been set up as such so we could hook into the North County Water District," Eckman said.
Chautauqua County Director of Environmental Health Jessica Wuerstle and Natalie Whiteman, a county Health Department water specialist working closely with Fredonia on its issues, were present to answer questions about the Fredonia and NCWD water systems.
"Essentially, both districts are supplying almost the exact same (quality of water)," Eckman said. "When you read the exact analysis of the water, it's very similar."
However, according to Whiteman, Fredonia tends to have more disinfection byproducts lingering in its system. While the NCWD has no issue with such byproducts "even at the furthest point," a pump station is needed to properly supply Berry Road from Fredonia's system, she said.
Town board member John Sedota said that Fredonia's future plans for its water system are not clear. Whiteman pointed out the Dec. 26 resolution by village trustees to draw down the reservoir, decommission the plant and buy water from Dunkirk. But Sedota responded that a lawsuit was filed against the resolution.
"This is where I become concerned. We could have water flowing (through new buildouts) before that lawsuit is resolved," Eckman said,
Sedota wanted to know what was going on with the deficiencies in Fredonia's system found by the state last year. Wuerstle responded the county is still waiting on a corrective action plan from the village.
Whiteman said the Fredonia plant is rated at 2 million gallons per day and puts out 1.7 million gallons now. "They do not have more capacity," she said.
Town board member Christopher Schaeffer said, "I think we need to move forward with the North County Water District."
A decision on which direction to take will be needed in about six months, the CPL rep said.
Sedota called the discussion "helpful," and Whiteman offered to come to the town board's March meeting. Eckman welcomed that offer.
Prior to the discussion, two Pomfret residents who are served by Fredonia water, blasted Fredonia's system during the public comments portion of the meeting.
Adam Dimitri lives in the Martha's Vineyard development and said that he and many of his neighbors want another water option. Dan Willey lives near the Webster Road water tower and complained that despite constant use of softeners and filtration, his Fredonia water leaves brown residue on appliances, and also comes in at too low pressure.
Defending village workers, he said, "They're trying to work on a system that's old and less than adequate." Willey concluded, "We need to move away from the reservoir."