In announcing progress last week during the boil-water order put forth by the Chautauqua County Health Department for Fredonia users, village officials made a statement that while true certainly is not genuine. That remark came on Tuesday — the third day of the advisory.

“The community’s patience and understanding have been appreciated,” the statement proclaimed. “It is the village of Fredonia’s utmost goal to provide its consumers with consistent, safe drinking water.”

First, residents’ “patience and understanding” is wearing very thin. Second, the village’s goal has not been — since 2009 — to provide customers with “consistent, safe drinking water.” If that was the case, some 14 years ago trustees would have set in motion other plans — such as joining the North County Water District. But back then, as is the case today, their eyes are on the money.

Big revenue came from the system, specifically through the former Red Wing and Carriage House plant that was the largest user at the time. Once the plant closed in 2015, their costs were passed on to the remaining customers that led to much higher water bills.

Though elected officials have recently invested in the village’s antiquated plant, the community is not satisfied. Five water emergencies in 14 years is not acceptable. Neither is the deficit the village is running operating the system.

“Unless we can find a way to produce it for half of what it’s costing us now, we’re going to be in the red as long as we’re in the business of producing and selling water,” Trustee Jon Espersen said at a January meeting. “I’ve had this discussion before — if there are alternate ways, then I hope we are open minded enough to take a look at (them), have an open and honest discussion. I talked to (Dunkirk DPW head) Randy Woodbury and they’re selling water a $3.84 per 1,000 gallons. So to ignore that figure, and how it would impact the village and the residents and all the water users not to have that discussion, I think is a dereliction of our duty.”

Fredonia’s current largest user, the State University of New York, is swimming in its own problems. When students are impacted by a four-day crisis — or three-week emergency such the one in 2020 — it sends a large message to parents and prospective students that safety is a priority.

Doing damage control at the university may mean finding another provider of water — either Dunkirk or the district. That would add to Fredonia’s water woes that, as time goes on, will continue to overflow.