Cayuga Creek Water District: A Decade-Long Effort Pays Off for Residents

After nearly a decade of petitions, hearings and rising costs, the Cayuga Creek Water District is essentially finished, bringing public water to Cayuga Creek Road.

At the Oct. 5 Town Board meeting, Town Engineer Mike Metzger reported the project 99.5% complete. Lab testing is done, all leakage and pressure tests passed, and he has certified to the Erie County Water Authority and the state health department that the line was built to the design drawings.

The district runs about 6,400 feet of 8-inch water main up Cayuga Creek Road to Three Rod Road, with fire hydrants and valves.

"It started out with folks living in that part of town who had issues with their wells," Metzger said in an Oct. 26 interview. "Some were dried up, and some had really poor quality water." One resident whose well was dry, he said, "would literally rent a hotel room so he could go take a shower once or twice a week."

Neighbors circulated the petition that got the district started. Rising costs later pushed the approved maximum from $887,600 to $1,306,400.

Sixteen of the 19 residents who signed up for a tap are connecting now, and the town won a concession letting the other three tie in later.

Supervisor Colleen Pautler called it a milestone. "Glad to see it come to the end," she said.

Next up: Townline Water District

The town's next district is already out to bid. Sealed bids for the Townline Water District are due at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 at the Town Clerk's office, 3311 Wende Road.

The project covers about 1,000 feet of 8-inch waterline along Townline Road north of Schlemmer Road, with hydrants and valves, bringing public water to homes that have relied on wells. The district was established in June 2024 at an estimated maximum cost of $366,000, paid by the benefited properties.

"Hopefully we'll go to construction within a month or two after that," Metzger said.