UPDATE: The Chautauqua County Health Department announced the boil water order for Village of Fredonia water customers has been lifted as of Tuesday morning.
"The turbidity levels have fallen to safe levels and operations have returned to normal. Two consecutive days of testing indicate that the water in the distribution system is safe for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, making coffee, etc.," a release says.
ORIGINAL: Another boil water order has been issued for Village of Fredonia water customers.
The Chautauqua County Health Department said a disruption at the water treatment plant led to water with elevated levels of turbidity entering the distribution system.
"This water could contain harmful microbes. The water entering the water treatment plant from the Fredonia Reservoir has high levels of turbidity, which cannot be adequately treated at the water treatment plant. Boiling the water kills bacteria and other microbes that may be present," a release says.
The health department said all Fredonia water customers must boil water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and making coffee until further notice. The water must be brought to a rolling boil for one minute, then cooled before use.
Boiled or bottled water must be used to wash dishes by hand and dishes should be allowed to completely air dry after washing. In addition, dishwashers that reach a temperature of 170⁰F and have a full dry cycle can be used in place of boiled water.
Officials said the water can be used for bathing as long as it is not consumed and it is safe for laundry.
A spokesperson for the Fredonia Fire Department said water quality sampling is expected to begin as early as Sunday, pending operational conditions, and the order will remain in effect until lab testing confirms that the water supply meets all safety standards.
WATCH: 'Something has to be done': Another boil water order issued for Village of Fredonia water customers
This is the 10th boil water order for Fredonia water customers in the last three years.
In September 2025, after its eighth boil water order in three years, we reported that the village board approved a bond of $17.5 million that would help cover the cost of a new water system. That would lead to the village decommissioning its reservoir and hooking up to the North County Water District.
Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said that the plan will take another two years. In the meantime, he told 7 News, he can't rule out another boil water order.
"I'm gonna tell you, probably yes, and it's sad. But we're doing the best we can to remedy these things," Ferguson said.
Business owners in Fredonia are fed up.
At The White Inn, hotel guests were offered bottled water and the restaurant was busy bringing cans of sodas from the basement for mixing cocktails at the bar.
"We have an abundance of backup," Amy O'Connell, the bar manager, said. "Since this has occurred in the past more frequently than we would care to."
Andrew Smith, owner of the Angry Squirrel, said boil water orders don't cost him extra expenses.
"But it impacts it, in the fact that people get hesitant about going out to eat," he said.
