MAYVILLE - The boil water order for the village of Fredonia has been lifted by the Chautauqua County Health Department.
It is now safe to use the water for drinking, cooking, and all other normal uses. Residents are also no longer required to conserve water.
The Fredonia water treatment plant was back into normal operations on Nov. 30. Village water staff collected water samples from throughout the distribution system on both Saturday and Sunday. Samples were tested for total coliform bacteria and turbidity, a measure of the cloudiness of the water. Both rounds of bacteria testing, analyzed by the Chautauqua County Health Department laboratory, have confirmed that no harmful bacteria are present in the Fredonia water system.
Turbidity is used as an indicator for what microbes other than bacteria might be present in the water. The turbidity readings that were taken Sunday throughout the village were measurably better than those taken Saturday, indicating the water produced during the emergency was working its way out of the distribution system. To ensure that all water throughout the distribution system meets state standards, village staff flushed water mains on Monday morning. However, any time hydrants are opened for flushing, the water may become cloudy or colored, just like any other time the village flushes.
For more information, call the Fredonia Village Hall at 679-2302 or 679-2303 or the Chautauqua County Health Department at 753-4481 or 363-4481.