Mayville is getting some major funding for its water system that, untreated, has traces of “forever chemicals” in it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that the village of Mayville has been awarded $7.5 million grant and interest-free financing package for the installation of a new groundwater well and/or installation of treatment for the existing well that is currently contaminated with perfluorononanoic acid, sometimes referred to as PFOA.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved over $175 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across the state. Mayville was the only Western New York project to get any funding.

“An investment in our state’s water systems is an investment in New Yorkers’ quality of life – from safeguarding our drinking water to protecting the rivers and lakes we use for recreation,” Hochul said in a news release. “By ensuring communities have the resources they need to complete crucial water infrastructure projects, we can create good-paying jobs and boost local economies while working toward a healthy environment for all New Yorkers.”

In December, 2020, Chautauqua County issued a “do not drink” order to village residents after samples indicated the presence of PFNA at levels between 75 and 330 parts per trillion. The order was lifted two weeks later after the village put a new well on line and finished flushing its tank.

Since then, Mayville put a filtering system on one of its wells and is in the process of putting another filtering system on a different contaminated well.

Mayor Rick Syper said Friday the village’s engineers were aware of this announcement before it was made. The village has been actively seeking various funding sources.

Last month the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced it would be testing the soil around the Chautauqua Municipal Building and other areas in the village for PFNA. Afterward, it would be developing a plan which could include removing some of the contaminated soil.

The village water became infected with the PFNA after a firefighting foam exercise was held on the grounds of the municipal building, which is the former Mayville school building. It is believed the foam went into the ground and the chemicals spread to the wells.

The DEC’s testing is designed to see how far the contaminants spread.