Pump problem leads to loss of water pressure

Most Fredonia residents lost water Tuesday, Oct. 13, after well pumps did not turn on during a maintenance procedure that required the village water tower to be emptied.

The problem was compounded after the pumps were turned on, which increased pressure in the system but caused a water-main break, Public Works Director Roger Strohm said.

Many residents had no water or lost pressure through the night, but service was restored Wednesday morning, Village Clerk Sandi Tretow said. 

She said service would be interrupted throughout the day Wednesday but would likely be fully restored by Thursday.

Water-system pressure is normally supplied by the water tower.

Village officials were alerted to the fact the pumps had not turned on when calls began coming in that residents had lost pressure.

The water tower had to be drained to implement a corrosion-control process on the tank’s interior, Strohm said.