On Tuesday, the Chautauqua County Health Department, in conjunction with Fredonia lifted the boil water order for all village water customers, including customers within the town of Pomfret.

The issue at the treatment plant has been corrected and the water main leaks have been repaired. Two consecutive days of testing indicate that the water in the distribution system is safe for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, making coffee, etc.

The Mandatory Water Conservation Order remains in effect for all water customers. The large water main break, along with the smaller leaks, caused substantial water loss in the system and the water treatment plant is still working to refill the storage tanks. All Fredonia water customers — both residential and commercial — must take steps to reduce water usage. These restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said a chlorinator pump froze, contributing to the order. He also mentioned a large water main break near the intersection of Central Avenue and Temple Street, which was first noticed around 1:30 p.m. Friday.

“It took seven hours just to gain control of where (the break) was. We went through two asphalt streets and a brick street to get to this pipe,” Ferguson said.

The mayor thanked the Department of Public Works for its labor on the break. “DPW worked on it until 3:40 a.m. (Saturday) when St. George took over.” He later said of DPW workers: “They were sprayed with water, it froze on them. They hung in there.”

Former DPW directors Chico Lascola and Scott Marsh also helped out in navigating the maze of water lines, Ferguson said. So did Trustee Paul Wandel, an engineer by trade who has explored water and wastewater system issues.

Ferguson also thanked residents who provided DPW laborers with food and beverages.

Ferguson said the village “lost quite a bit of water” from the main break, “partially because we could not turn (the water flow) off for fear of creating air pockets that literally would probably have destroyed the rest of the water system.”

A state of emergency on water infrastructure has been declared in Fredonia, to free up New York state grants for infrastructure repairs, the mayor said.

Ways to conserve water include:

— Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing dishes.

— Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.

— Take short showers; turn off water while lathering.

— Skip pre-rinsing dishes; most dishwashers can remove food particles and stains without pre-rinsing.

— Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils.

— Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave — not under running water.

— Clean vegetables in a bowl of water, not under the tap.

— Do not wash vehicles.

— Do not fill pools, hot tubs, or other large containers.

— Make every toilet flush count. Don’t use the toilet like a garbage can to flush away tissue, etc.

— Check for and fix leaks in faucets, toilets, and pipes.

Village officials will provide updates on the conserve water order as they are available.

For more information, residents should call the Village of Fredonia at (716) 679-2307 and Chautauqua County Health Department permitted facilities can call the Health Department directly at (716) 753-4481.

Staff writer M.J. Stafford contributed to this article.