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It may seem odd to some people that I am complimenting Fredonia Trustee Paul Wandel on his efforts in overseeing operations at the village's water treatment plant. I have been critical in this column of Wandel's support of the village's current plan to join the North County Water District. I have also been critical of the inaccurate statements and misinformation that Wandel often spreads about this ill-advised water project. But credit should be given where credit is due.
In THE OBSERVER'S VIEW of Sept. 1, water plant upgrades made a difference in the village, the editor correctly points out that there were no boil water orders or other troubles with the village's water system after the heavy morning downpours of rain on Aug. 23. This was a good thing and a positive departure from the boil water order that occurred after a very heavy rain a couple of months prior.
That rainstorm caused high turbidity at the water treatment plant that resulted in yet another frustrating boil water order. Wandel refuses to admit that the boil order caused by the high turbidity at the plant was actually the result of human error. But his oversight of the plant has made a positive difference and likely prevented another boil water order on Aug. 23.
As stated in the Sept. 1 editorial, Wandel, as head of the water committee, gave a June village board meeting report on the much needed upgrades made at the village's water treatment plant. In his report Wandel spoke about the "new and reliable chlorination system, which should have been installed many years ago." What Wandel did not point out in his report is that the upgrades to the plant were first started during the Athanasia Landis administration. Mayor Landis and the village board at that time had every intention of upgrading the village's dam, reservoir and WTP and keeping the whole system in operation for many many years to come.
Unfortunately Landis was voted out of office before her administration could fully implement their plans to upgrade the village's dam, WTP and reservoir and to replace the ancient water lines that deliver water from the reservoir to village water customers. Imagine how different things might be had Landis been re-elected six years ago.
Wandel was also quoted in this OBSERVER'S View as stating at this June village board meeting that "We are now using a state of the art system that has thus far delivered steady liquid chlorination. .... Chlorination breakdown is the primary source and reason for Fredonia water boil advisories."
Frequent boil water orders have been the reason for the water uproar throughout the village. Eliminating the boil orders has also eliminated the outrage. Wandel doesn't realize it but through his fine efforts at overseeing the upgrades and standard operating procedures at the WTP he has shown that joining the NCWD is an unnecessary, foolish and terribly expensive endeavor.
Now that Wandel's positive efforts in overseeing operations at the village's water treatment plant have been recognized, Wandel and the supporters of this plan for the village to join the NCWD need to recognize the bigger picture.
Upgrades to the plant have improved the village's production of clean drinking water and eliminated a major cause of boil water orders. Wandel has done an admirable job improving standard operating procedures at the WTP while at the same time inadvertently showing that joining the NCWD is an unnecessary boondoggle for Fredonia. Trustee Wandel has proven that the village is quite capable of producing reliable, safe, clean and tasty drinking water. The ancient delivery system is now the problem to be solved.
Brown water flowing from household taps and frustrating water main breaks have nothing to do with the WTP. These frustrating inconveniences are caused by the ancient pipes that taint the high quality water flowing from the reservoir to village water customers.
The village has already invested more than half a million dollars in this state of the art chlorination system. The trustees continue to pour more money into the WTP systems. Is this investment to be needlessly discarded once the village finishes this foolhardy plan to decommission the reservoir and join the NCWD? Better for the village to keep the water system we have and invest in upgrading the reservoir and water delivery infrastructure.
The village of Fredonia does not need to join the NCWD. Here is what the trustees do need to do. Wandel needs to continue his careful oversight of the operations at the WTP and the continued improvements to the system. The village board needs to scrap their plan to join the NCWD.
Investment needs to be made in replacing the ancient water mains that often burst and sometimes deliver brown water to villagers. The board should continue to make the necessary upgrades to Fredonia's dam, WTP and reservoir. Now that Wandel's efforts have been recognized perhaps all of Fredonia can recognize that scrapping the NCWD plan and fixing what we have is the most wise, logical and financially prudent thing to do for Fredonia's water.
Andrew Ludwig is a retired math teacher and a retired public school and Catholic school administrator. He currently woks as a substitute teacher in Chautauqua County.