Cattaraugus County to crack down on 4 noncomplying water systems
OLEAN — The Cattaraugus County Health Department will begin cracking down on four spring-fed public water systems that are out of compliance with state regulations requiring filtration devices.
Environmental Health Director Eric Wohlers reported the situation to members of the county Board of Health who met Wednesday in Olean.
He said the springs are governed by surface water treatment regulations that went into effect in 1998. The suppliers were supposed to phase in filtration of the shallow groundwater supplies, and all four of these spring-fed sources were declared to be under the influence of surface water.
These four small water systems have mostly encountered funding problems and have repeatedly notified consumers of the fact that they are out of compliance with the filtration requirement. They have exceeded an 18-month period that was established to allow time for installation of the required filters for compliance. As a result, they will be caught in the state’s formal enforcement policy that must be carried out by the county Health Department.
The systems are the village of Delevan; a water district in the Town of Machias that serves a portion of the residents excluding the Lime Lake community but including the county’s Pines Nursing Home; the Otto Town Water District; and the privately owned Crystal Water serving the hamlet of West Valley.
Delevan received on Appalachian Regional Commission grant of $150,000, but additional funds are needed before the treatment system can be installed.
Machias has two wells, but abandonment of the spring-fed supply will exclude about 10 residents from water service.
Crystal Water is located on private property and has insufficient resources to make the upgrade and, according to Wohlers, will most likely have to be taken over and funded by the town as a new water district.
Wohlers said the Otto Town Water District is under construction and has performed feasibility studies. An application for funding was rejected, and a new application was submitted.
“They’ve been given some deadlines, but the state requires formal enforcement, and we will have to schedule hearings. The board will have to issue an order and impose a schedule on them unless they comply voluntarily,” Wohlers said.
He also informed the board that the state has issued directives that permits may be withheld from restaurants, campgrounds and other facilities that have failed to submit paperwork proving that workers’ compensation and disability insurance are in effect.
“We haven’t renewed the permits because there are no documents, but they are still open and in operation. We will see new enforcements,” he said.
Health Department staffers said there are at least six such businesses scattered throughout the county that are at risk of enforcement action.
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