Village meters tied to water issues

Editor, OBSERVER:

A writer of the letter “Trustees cannot overlook water losses” (Nov. 19), states “the village has a 50% water loss rate due to leaks at the present time.”

My argument is that this apparent loss is primarily due to metering inaccuracy rather than to leaks.

Fredonia Mayor Athanasia Landis and I, as village trustee, discussed this issue privately with Department of Public Works personnel during my time in office from 2018 to 2019. Unfortunately, the issue was not resolved before the end of my term.

Devin M. Stoker, Steven L. Barfuss, and Michael C. Johnson have discussed the issue of “Flow measurement accuracies of in-service residential water meters” in the December 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Water Works Association. They emphasize that water meters become less accurate over time. They attribute this to “wear, water quality, water velocities, throughput volumes, and installation and handling.”

In the light of my decade-long familiarity with this problem, I suggested replacement of water meters throughout Fredonia during my term in office. This presents two problems.

¯ Replacement of some six thousand meters represents a cost to ratepayers.

¯ Doubling of current water and sewer rents secondary to accurate meter reads is unlikely to be well-received by rent payers. This doubling would occur even without any change in rates.

I agree with the writer that infrastructure integrity is a necessity for all Fredonia residents and commuters. It should take priority over many other concerns addressed before the Trustees.

MICHAEL C. BARRIS, Ph.D.,

Fredonia

Turbines do not belong in waters

Editor, OBSERVER:

An article appeared in the OBSERVER (Nov. 26) headlined “No facts to back turbine opposition.” I am compelled to respond by simply stating that manypeople do not want them in their lake — period.

Never mind the special interest groups who are looking for tax free money to subsidize these programs. Putting giant turbines in Lake Erie will destroy the beauty of the water like it has to the hills of Arkwright. Only this time you may pollute your drinking waters instead of your countryside.

I am no scientist, but it is common sense the amount of sediment at the bottom of the lake that has laid dormant there for years, which disturbed, could lead to contamination of the lake. Then the pouring tons of concrete for the bases of these turbines into the lake, oil operates these machines will that be more pollution into the water.

The big gamble here is the last statement make by the author: “If lake sited-turbines prove to be safe and feasible, we should support them.” Many believe they do not want to or need to gamble with one of our best natural resources this area has, so we really don’t care about your feasibility studies. What we care about is keeping our Lake Erie free of turbines.

JAMES LISA,

Silver Creek