Trickle-Down from Cheese Plant to Wean Linwood of Well Water

YORK – Town officials are hopeful that the $58 million cheese production facility planned for the tiny hamlet of Linwood will also bring municipal water and sewer services to dozens of rural residents.

The Town of York is spearheading a 26,000-foot water main extension and 500,000 gallon above-ground water storage tank, that is intended to service not only the 30,000 square-foot cheese plant but some 60 residents of Linwood who currently use well water.

“The hope is to put the hamlet of Linwood on municipal water,” said York Town Supervisor Gerald Demming. “It’s an area we’ve tried for years, probably 20, to get water to.”

Demming added that several local farms have pitched in funds to help the project along.

Most of the target properties are on Rte. 58 (Stewart Road and Linwood Road).

Some residents said that they will not miss their wells, which can yield inconsistent or unsatisfactory water supplies.

“I had a ‘water room’ built in my garage because my well usually goes dry every year,” said local resident Betsy Scott. “The town always got our hopes up with water, but nothing ever came from it.”

York’s water passes through Geneseo’s wastewater treatment plant for sanitation. Geneseo Village Mayor Richard Hatheway said that the wastewater treatment plant will be able to handle the increased water flow.