If Fredonia doesn’t do something about its 15 water system health violations quickly, it could get fined up to $2,400 a day for each one.

That was just part of the stark report on Fredonia’s water system offered by the Chautauqua County Health Department Monday, in a presentation at a village Board of Trustees meeting.

The problems, including four boil orders since 2020, have spurred Mayor Douglas Essek to declare a state of emergency over the water system.

Health officials assured Fredonia users their water is safe to drink — for now. They also repeatedly promised to work with Fredonia officials on a concrete plan to fix water system problems, such as at the treatment plant. That was about the only light in a presentation full of dark news about the water infrastructure.

“It’s time to stop doing engineering studies and address what’s wrong with the water system,” the county health department’s Natalie Whiteman told Fredonia officials. She later added, “We can’t wait months or years to make it happen. The system is too fragile.”

This story will be updated.