There is no timetable on when the boil-water order will come to an end for Fredonia users, but county officials believe it could be sooner rather than later. The order, which went into effect on Sunday morning, is the fifth such crisis since 2009.

“It’s going in the right direction,” said Jessica Wuerstle, director of environmental health services for Chautauqua County, regarding the efforts at the Fredonia site. “They’re addressing the problem and doing the work that’s needed.”

Testing at the plant, she said, is being done on a daily basis.

In a statement late Tuesday afternoon, village Mayor Doug Essek said the plant’s chlorine disinfectant system is in operation and is hopeful the order will be lifted soon. “The community’s patience and understanding have been appreciated,” he said. “It is the village of Fredonia’s utmost goal to provide its consumers with consistent, safe drinking water.”

In making the announcement this weekend, officials had been hopeful the boil-water order would be lifted Tuesday. All Fredonia water customers — including those outside of the village boundaries — must continue to boil water used for cooking and drinking.

The state alert noted there was a disruption in the disinfection treatment, “making the water not safe to drink. Bring all water used for drinking or cooking to a rolling boil, then cool before using. You will be notified when it is no longer necessary to boil water.”

While the boil-water order is an inconvenience for residents, it also creates a major problem for the business community, especially the restaurants. The previous order in 2020 lasted for nearly three weeks and led to the village distributing bottled water to its residents. Also seriously impacted is the State University of New York at Fredonia, which contracts with the village for water.

Other boil-water advisories for the village occurred when the system was compromised in 2009, 2012 and 2017.

Wuerstle on Monday said the boil water order was issued “out of an abundance of caution” and isn’t life threatening. She said people who don’t follow the order risk getting themselves sick.

Those seeking more information can call the village at 716-679-2307 or the county Health Department at 716-753-4481.