Village of Fredonia water plant violates health code
The Chautauqua County Health Department has leveled several violations against the Village of Fredonia's water treatment plant. As YNN's Mark Goshgarian tells us, the Village is working to breath new life into an aging system.
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FREDONIA, N.Y. — The Village of Fredonia is making major upgrades to its water treatment facility.
"I would say right now, we're operational, and we're operational that there's no threats to public water at all," said Stephen Keefe, (D) Fredonia Mayor.
Problems with a chemical feed pump in November caused the water clarity to fall below county health department standards.
Last month, the Department cited the plant for a number of code violations, and is working with the Village to resolve the issues.
"We have to be able to provide safe and reliable drinking water, and without safe drinking water we could see an increase in waterborne illnesses that we really have the ability to eradicate in this nation," said Christine Schuyler, Health and Human Services Director.
Changes include adding an alarm to the chemical feed pump, replacing two older pumps, and developing more water storage.
"Which is going to be a huge financial burden, but some of the other things we're trying to mark them off a little at a time," said Keefe.
Some repairs must be complete by the end of June. Others have until the end of the year.
Keefe says the Village is actively working to address the problems.
"It's hard to get everything done at one time, just because of the economics of it," said Keefe.
Not only is the Village working to upgrade its water treatment facility, it now needs someone to run it, following the retirement of its chief operating officer at the end of last month.
"Right now, we have three people on staff that have the credentials to run the plant. We need the right person with the right certifications to be that person we're going to hire, so right now, we're looking," said Keefe.
Keefe says the Village may first hire a temporary consultant.