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Chautauqua County schedules public hearing on Mayville wastewater plant upgrades
Summary
The legislature’s committee voted to call a public hearing on proposed repairs and capacity upgrades to the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District treatment plant in Mayville after engineers found capacity and equipment issues; staff estimated a roughly $10.1 million project and warned of DEC regulatory risk.
Chautauqua County’s Planning & Development Committee voted to call a public hearing on a proposal to upgrade the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District wastewater treatment plant in Mayville.
The matter drew attention after a study funded by the Environmental Facilities Corporation found the Mayville plant lacking spare capacity and several components in need of repair. "It's a half a million gallon per day plant. Our daily average is 320,000. But during peak flows or rain events ... the meter actually only measures 2,000,000 gallons a day, and we're maxing that meter out," said Matt Aldek, director of the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District.
The study recommended substantial work, including replacing older processes and equipment. County staff said engineers are discussing converting the plant to a sequencing batch reactor process, which uses aerated sludge and might reduce phosphorus and chemical use. Committee members noted some clarifiers and mechanical components date to 1978 and run continuously, increasing maintenance concerns.
County staff reviewed the rough estimated project cost that appears in the draft resolution: approximately $10,100,000 for upgrades at the Mayville plant. Staff also warned that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) could issue an order if the plant is found to be operating over its permitted capacity, which could force near‑term fixes regardless of grant outcomes.
The committee approved the resolution to call a public hearing so residents and affected parties can comment on the proposed upgrade and grant applications. Next steps noted by staff include the scheduled public hearing and subsequent decisions about grant applications and design work if funding is secured.
Ending: The public hearing will be held as part of the county’s formal review process; the committee did not set a construction start date in this action and indicated further design and funding decisions would follow public comment and grant outcomes.
