Plans for a new water-well draw up some debate in Nichols.

Everyone agrees on the need for a well, just not where to dig it.

The new Mayor wants the project moved away from the village park.

Kids swing, slide, and play basketball at Kirby Park in the Village of Nichols.

But adding a water well could make parts of this park off limits.

A non-pollutant zone would be established 200 feet around the well.

The use of any chemicals like fertilizer would be forbidden.

"If we in the future would we have to seal the basketball court and the tennis court that would pollute the non-pollutant area, and we would have a problem" says Douglas Horton, Mayor of the Village of Nichols.

United Water of Owego-Nichols says the village has a bigger problem.

"If something happens to the existing well there is no water. And it takes a long time to put in water" says Allan Watkins of United Water.

Nichols has not had a back up well in 14 years.

It's taken that long for United Water to pick a spot.

"United Water says placing a well here at Kirby Park is absolutely the right thing to do. The company has drilled throughout the Village of Nichols, and this testing-well has proven to be the best option."

United Water it's the best in terms water depth, quality and cleanliness

People we talked to are willing to sacrifice a little recreation for clean H20.

"If that's the only descent spot they can get clean water since we only have a well, if that one went bad we wouldn't have any," says John Lahnum of Nichols.

"That's the problem. We have to have that second back-up. If that water goes bad across the street we're out of business," added Donald Dewitt of Nichols.

The village planning board has already approved placing the well in the park.

The Mayor hopes to get public opinion on his side and convince United Water to keep looking.