OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The Pomfret Town Board and Town Clerk Alison Vento, far left, sit during the March board meeting. Town board members are, from left, Ann Eckman, Adam Rak, Christopher Schaeffer, John Sedota and Supervisor Daniel Pacos.

“I really don’t think we have any option other than to look at the North County Water District for our expansion projects,” Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos said, kicking off a discussion about local water issues at the March town board meeting.

The town is doing an ambitious, years-long upgrade of its water infrastructure and needs to decide whether it wants the district or the village of Fredonia to supply it. Currently, Pomfret gets water from both entities.

Deputy Supervisor Ann Eckman said she and Pacos — who chairs the NCWD board — recently met with village officials about their water system. Fredonia is addressing noncompliance violations issued by the state.

“They’re 16 months minimum out, more like two years out” from completing any renovations, she said.

Natalie Whiteman, Chautauqua County Health Department water specialist, informed that the city of Dunkirk, which supplies the NCWD, can produce 10 million gallons of water per day. It produces, at most, 3 million gallons a day currently, she said.

Eckman asked if that was the case even with the Wells ice cream plant at full production. Whiteman responded that it was.

Pacos later noted that Fredonia has connections with the NCWD on either end of the village, along Route 20 — but then said Pomfret would have to pass an agreement to exercise those connections.

“I could conceivably see an instance where they need to buy water from you” while constructing upgrades, Whiteman said of Fredonia.

“There’s exclusivity in some of these Fredonia-Pomfret water agreements,” said Pacos, meaning that only Fredonia can supply the water. However, those need to be renegotiated, he said.

The town must give six months notice to renegotiate, but “the way this is shaping up, this could take a lot longer than six months,” Pacos added.

He went on to suggest that “before village residents take on debt themselves, they might want to look at a county project” for water system renovations.

The town board went on to approve map plans and reports from CPL for water line projects on Berry and Chestnut roads. It also backed a $920,600 engineering and services agreement with CPL for work on “Phase 3” of the town water project.

The Berry Road construction will replace 9,100 feet of mains, including in the nearby Martha’s Vineyard neighborhood. The Chestnut Road project will do 3,300 feet of mains.

The Berry Road work is estimated to cost $2.26 million, the Chestnut Road project $960,000. Officials think they can get 60% of the project costs paid through grants.