(WNY News Now) – Fredonia water customers, including residents in the Town of Pomfret outside the village, must boil water before drinking or using it for food preparation after officials issued a boil water order effective Tuesday, October 27, 2026. A water conservation order issued last week also remains in effect.

FREDONIA, N.Y. — The Village of Fredonia, working with the Chautauqua County Health Department, has issued a boil water order for all village water customers after problems at the water treatment plant prevented treated water from meeting state safety standards.

Officials said water entering the treatment plant from the Fredonia Reservoir contains elevated levels of organic material, creating difficulties for the filtration system. Continued strain on the equipment, including aging filter media, has resulted in elevated turbidity levels in treated water.

Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles. Officials warned that elevated levels could indicate the presence of harmful microbes, prompting the precautionary order to protect public health.

What Residents Need to Know

Until further notice, all Fredonia water customers must bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow it to cool before using it for:

• Drinking and cooking
• Making ice and coffee
• Brushing teeth

Bottled water may also be used for these purposes.

For dishwashing, officials recommend boiled or bottled water when washing by hand, followed by complete air-drying. Dishwashers that reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit and include a full drying cycle may be used. Tap water remains acceptable for laundry and may be used for bathing as long as it is not swallowed.

Water Conservation Order Remains in Effect

The village is also asking residents, businesses and institutions to continue conserving water to reduce demand and ease the strain on treatment plant equipment.

Officials will monitor turbidity levels and flush the distribution system once conditions improve. Water samples will then be collected on consecutive days to verify that the supply meets safety requirements.

The boil water order will remain in place until officials confirm the water is safe and issue a public notification that the order has been lifted.

Where to Get Updates

Residents can contact the Village of Fredonia at 716-679-2307 for more information. Chautauqua County Health Department-permitted facilities can call the department directly at 716-753-4481.

Additional updates will be posted on the Chautauqua County website at chqgov.com/news.

For guidance on boiling water and emergency disinfection, visit the New York State Department of Health.