Boil Water Advisory for Fredonia Residents
On September 19, 2025, the Chautauqua County Health Department and the Village of Fredonia issued a boil water advisory for all water customers in Fredonia. This action was taken after routine testing showed bacteria in the water supply.
Initially, one test result indicated a presence of E. coli, but a reporting error later clarified that while total coliform bacteria were detected, E. coli was not present. Total coliform bacteria can indicate potential issues with water sanitation, which is why the boil water order remains in effect.
Precautions to Take
Residents must boil water for all activities requiring drinking, cooking, or dental hygiene. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. After boiling, let it cool before use.
For washing dishes, use boiled or bottled water. Dishes must be air-dried completely. Homes with dishwashers that reach 170°F during the drying cycle can safely use their machines without boiling water first. It’s safe to use tap water for bathing and laundry.
Follow-Up Measures
The Village plans to conduct follow-up testing over several days to ensure the water is safe again. This testing will help ensure no further reporting errors occur. The public will be notified via press releases when the advisory is lifted.
Additional Information
Keeping track of water safety is crucial. According to the CDC, about 7.2 million cases of waterborne illnesses occur every year in the U.S. Alerts like this remind us to be vigilant about our water sources.
Residents seeking updates on the boil order can sign up for notifications from the NY Alert system. For further guidance on boiling water and emergency disinfection, check the New York State Department of Health website here.
For questions, you can call the Village of Fredonia at (716) 679-2307 or the Chautauqua County Health Department at (716) 753-4481.
Stay safe and informed!



















