BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Alcoa and the village have reached a new, ten-year contract for the village to supply Alcoa with raw water, officials say.

“The original agreement expired around 18 months ago, so obviously we’re very happy to have a deal completed,” Mayor Tim Ahlfeld said.

Under the new agreement, village officials and Alcoa agreed to lower the monthly minimum intake of water from 1.5 million gallons per month to 1.1 million gallons.

The change was necessary due to Alcoa’s output in recent years, Ahlfeld said.

“A number of times they barely met the minimum or didn’t because they just weren’t producing as much as they did in years past. The change will fall more in line with their current production and staffing,” he said.

Water supplied to the village and Alcoa originates at the intake, with one main line running to the village and two running to Alcoa, according to Ahlfeld.

Alcoa uses raw water and processed, potable water as well, both of which are included in the new contract.

In recent years a valve was put in place to potentially reroute water from one of Alcoa’s lines in the event of an emergency, Ahlfeld said.

“We had an agreement with Alcoa to install the valve a few years ago after we had to shut down water in the village for a few hours. It’s a backup plan in case of an emergency or if we need to work on the village line coming from the intake,” he said.

The new deal includes provisions for the continued use of the emergency valve, offering a safeguard for the village.

The ten-year deal is in place now but does include a five-year opt out, officials say.

“We don’t foresee any changes but if there is a drastic change in the market or staffing levels change, there is the option for Alcoa to opt out,” Ahlfeld said.

The opt out would have to occur prior to January of 2026, at which time officials would have up to three months to come to a new agreement.

Alcoa recently hired 15 full-time hourly employees and announced plans to hire additional hourly and salaried staff in the coming weeks.

Production is at its highest mark in nearly a decade, with aluminum reaching over $3,000 per ton in September.