Boil water order continues in Fredonia

FREDONIA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A boil water order continues in Fredonia, where health officials are raising concerns about contamination in the municipal system.

For three days, residents have not been able to use their water normally because of a problem at the village's water filtration plant. The mechanism that purifies the water and filters out sediment isn't working properly.

Water Resource Specialist William Boria of the Chautauqua County Health Department said, "There could be other things in the water, particularly microbes that can use the tiny little sediment particles to hide behind."

The health department is ordering residents to boil all water before they drink it, brush their teeth with it, make ice or cook. And to conserve water by not doing laundry and taking fewer, shorter showers.

"Well, normally I get up and I take a glass of water and I can't. I have to watch everything I do. I have to watch everything I cook; I have to watch what I give my children. You have to be very cautious and it really takes a lot of time out of your day," said Patsy Bennice.

Student Jenna Treahy added, "It's really hard brushing your teeth with a water bottle. And I think I've been dehydrated because I haven't been drinking as much water as I should be."

It's more than an inconvenience. The problem is taking a bite out of restaurants' bottom lines.

"We've definitely been a lot slower the last couple of days. Luckily tonight some business came back," said Katrina Johnston, who works at DeJohn's Italian Pizzeria.

41 West Co-Owner Mark Brenecki said, "You're looking probably $75 to $100 a day. Wednesday we couldn't do wings because we couldn't do dishes."

Water treatment specialists are working to resolve the issues, but the boil order will continue through the weekend.

"Our job is to keep everybody safe," said Boria. "And that's what we're trying to do."

What makes the water situation especially risky is that the water coming out of the taps in Fredonia looks okay - it isn't murky or clouded - and someone unaware of the boil order might drink it. But health officials say it must be brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute before use.

For updates on the situation, keep your eyes on WIVB.com and the county health department's website.