Water & Sewer Department

Department News

What's happening now

Responsibilities

What this office does

Forms & Info

Annual Water Quality Report

Water & Sewer Contractor Registration

Water & Sewer Permit

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Staff

Joseph Yacklon, Superintendent
Lynne Vilardo, Accounting Assistant
Wayne Cardy, Sr. Water Plant Operator
Paul Cleveland, Water Plant Operator
Edward Kneer, Sr. Maintenance Mechanic - Wastewater Treatment Plant
Dana Williams, Treatment Plant Attendant B - Wastewater Treatment Plant
Mark Grant, Treatment Plant Attendant B - Wastewater Treatment Plant
Erin Schuster, Treatment Plant Attendant B - Wastewater Treatment Plant
Michael Marczynski, Treatment Plant Attendant B - Wastewater Treatment Plant

Water

The water supply in Westfield is obtained from the Minton Reservoir on Mt. Baldy Road and from Chautauqua Creek. The Village’s water plant is located on Mt. Baldy Road. Most public water lines in Westfield are owned by the Village; water lines outside the Village are privately owned. The Barcelona Water Association obtains water through Westfield but maintains its own lines. The Village lines extend into the Town in the following locations: north, to Barcelona; west, to the Edgewater Condominiums on Route 5 near Light Road, and along Route 20 to Munson Road; east, to Prospect Road; and south, to Mt. Baldy Road. Where these lines exist in the Town, the Town contracts with the Village for water services.

When the reservoir is full, the water supply is sufficient for current needs in Westfield. During grape processing season, which begins the end of September and runs for 4-5 weeks, the system may be at or near capacity. This situation may also arise during drought years. The Village then relies more heavily on water pumped from Chautauqua Creek. The Village has installed one new pump and is planning to replace the second pump to ensure a more dependable water flow.

Since 1995 with the construction of the new water plant, the Village has embarked on a comprehensive system-wide upgrade, cleaning, and/or replacement program. This year, a new waterline cleaning process known as HERC kicks off on July 7th with the lines on Kent, Pleasant, Ash, Riley, Crandall, Backman, Second, Jackson and Billsboro Streets slated for HERC chemical cleaning. The HERC process is unique in that it doesn't require the physical replacement of water lines. Instead, a biodegradable patented chemical is pressure-forced through the existing waterlines (which structurally are in excellent shape; however, they are clogged with mineral deposits that ultimately reduce pressure and add discoloration to treated water) over a period of 24 hours that removes the buildup and will add a significant amount of life to these distribution lines. The process on these nine streets will take approximately three weeks to complete.

Other system improvements include the water lines along Route 20 that were replaced in 1998 in conjunction with the road reconstruction project. Old four and six-inch lines dating from the early 1900’s were replaced with 12-inch lines. This has significantly improved water pressure for fire protection downtown and on East Main Street from the school east to the Village line. Most if not all of the old valves have been replaced over the last five years in the Village which also aides in ongoing water line maintenance.

In addition to the above, the waterlines on Route 394 are currently being replaced with 12 inch pipes during the NYS DOT's Route 394 project as a betterment, further enhancing the distribution system's pressure and ability to provide clear water.

Water customers in the Village of Westfield are charged according to their water usage and meter size (billed bi-monthly). Customers outside the Village limits are billed one and one-half times the Village rates.

Sanitary Sewer

All sewer lines in Westfield  are owned by the Village. The lines extend north into the Town to Forest Park on Route 5. Sewer rates are calculated based on water usage from the water meter and customers are billed bi-monthly along with their water charges. Residents outside the Village are charged one and one-half times the Village rates with the exception of Forest Park. The sewer lines on Rte 394 (S. Portage Street) are being replaced with the waterlines during this betterment project. The sanitary sewer line from Water Street to the West Side Pump station will be replaced through a pipe bursting process this summer. Recent pump replacements and rebuilds at the West Side Pump Station have significantly improved the control of storm sewer discharge through to the Village's waste processing facility.

The Village Waste Treatment Plant is located at Old Hawley Street off of North Portage Street. Construction of this plant was completed in 1977 and a number of improvements have been made since then. Some of the more notable improvements include the Plate and Frame High Pressure Filter Press Biosolids dewatering system and the Ultra Violet disinfection system. More recently, significant clarifier reconstruction and  painting has been undertaken by dedicated plant staff. This plant was constructed to meet the peak demand of area grape processors during the early fall. At other times throughout the year, the plant is at less than one-third of its total capacity.

Storm Sewer

Nearly the entire Village of Westfield is served by storm sewers. Where there are still open ditches and where time permits, the Village Streets Department will install a storm sewer at the request of property owners. Property owners must purchase the pipe for these projects. The Department also replaces existing storm sewers with new tiles and basins in conjunction with street work. New storm sewers were installed by the State DOT's contractor during the Route 20 reconstruction. This year the storm sewers on the east side of Spring, Cass and Jefferson Streets will be replaced by the Public Works Department.

The Town of Westfield does not have storm sewers for collecting surface water drainage.  This drainage is effectively handled by the system of open ditches along Town roads.