Residents demand action on Olean's sewage crisis affecting drinking water

Concerns over water quality and rising costs dominated the City of Olean Common Council meeting on March 11, 2025, as residents voiced their frustrations regarding untreated sewage discharges into the Allegheny River. Community members, including local indigenous representatives, highlighted the ongoing environmental and health crises stemming from the city's wastewater treatment issues.

Anna Stahlman, a Salamanca resident and indigenous advocate, urged the council to establish a task force to address the alarming history of noncompliance with water management regulations. She pointed out that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had mandated upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment plant back in February 2020, yet significant unauthorized discharges of untreated sewage continue to pose serious risks to public health and the environment.

Stahlman emphasized the importance of clean water as a human right and questioned the city's previous decision to decline grant funding for necessary upgrades. "Why did the city originally decline the offer for grant funding and why did it change?" she asked, expressing disappointment over the lack of accountability and action.

Residents echoed these sentiments, with one mother sharing her family's struggles with rising water bills and health issues linked to contaminated water. "My water bill has gone from $90 every three months to $174 a month," she lamented, adding that her children suffer from skin problems and gastrointestinal issues due to the water quality. "We're buying cases of water for him. That's an added expense on top of the hundred and $74 I pay for water."

Another resident, Oliver Cashmere, also spoke out about his chronic health issues, attributing them to the contaminated water. "Shame on you guys for that. Shame on previous past administration people. Shame on the mayors. Shame on you currently," he declared, calling for immediate action to rectify the situation.

The meeting underscored a growing urgency among Olean residents for the city to take decisive steps to improve water quality and manage costs effectively. As the council faces mounting pressure from the community, the path forward remains uncertain, but the demand for accountability and action is clear.