THIS IS AN ACTIVE ALERT
MAYVILLE, N.Y - The Chautauqua County Health Department has issued a boil water order for all Village of Fredonia water customers and properties outside the Village boundaries supplied by their water system Friday January 30, 2026. Additionally, the Village of Fredonia, in coordination with the Chautauqua County Health Department, has issued a Mandatory Water Conservation Order for all water customers due to a water main break that is causing substantial water loss in the system. Customers are asked to conserve water to ensure that the water treatment plant can produce enough water to meet customer demand while Village staff work to locate and fix the leak.
The New York State Department of Health requires that anytime water is not adequately treated a boil water order must be issued to notify customers. A disruption in treatment at the water treatment plant led to water that was not adequately treated entering the distribution system. This water could contain harmful microbes. Boiling the water kills bacteria and other microbes that may be present.
All Fredonia water customers must boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and making coffee until further notice. Water must be brought to a rolling boil for one minute then cooled prior to use.
Boiled or bottled water must be used to wash dishes by hand; dishes should be allowed to completely air dry after washing. Home dishwashers that reach a temperature of 170⁰F and have a full dry cycle can be used in place of boiled water. The water may be used for bathing as long as it is not consumed. The water is safe for laundry.
Effective immediately, all Village of Fredonia water customers — both residential and commercial — must take steps to reduce water usage. These restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
Ways You Can Conserve Water:
- Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing dishes.
- Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
- Take short showers; turn off water while lathering.
- Skip pre-rinsing dishes; most dishwashers can remove food particles and stains without pre-rinsing.
- Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
- Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave — not under running water.
- Clean vegetables in a bowl of water, not under the tap.
- Do not wash vehicles.
- Do not fill pools, hot tubs, or other large containers.
- Make every toilet flush count. Don’t use the toilet like a garbage can to flush away tissue, etc.
- Check for and fix leaks in faucets, toilets, and pipes.
Once the treatment process has been fully restored to normal operations, the Village will collect water samples on consecutive days to make sure the water is safe. Village officials will provide updates on the conserve water order and the efforts to repair the water main leak as they are available. Notifications and press releases will be used to inform the public when the boil water order is lifted.
For more information on boiling water and emergency disinfection visit the New York State Department of Health website at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/boilwater/. Press releases will be posted on the Chautauqua County website at https://chqgov.com/news. For more information, residents should call the Village of Fredonia at (716) 679-2307 and Chautauqua County Health Department permitted facilities can call the Health Department directly at (716) 753-4481.
About Chautauqua County Health Department - The Chautauqua County Health Department is the leading Public Health organization in Chautauqua County dedicated to the support of the community’s health. The Health Department takes innovative approaches to provide technical assistance to partner organizations, and offers various programs and services in order to help prevent disease, protect the public’s health and promote our community’s overall health and wellness. For more information visit www.HealthyCHQ.com.