MANNSVILLE — The village Board of Trustees took another step Tuesday night in providing the nearby village of Ellisburg with water.

The board began the process of adding 110,100 gallons per day to its state permit to pump water from its well field. The additional load is exactly what the state Department of Health wants available for the $2.2 million water project for the village of Ellisburg.

"This additional taking is specifically for Ellisburg," said Dustin J. Clark, an engineer with Barton & Loguidice, Syracuse.

The well field covers about 2 acres near the northern boundary of Mannsville near Skinner Creek. The pumps at the well field can pump up to 240 gallons per minute, which is far more capacity than is required for Mannsville's current permit of 44,000 gallons per day. The permit expansion will not require any facility changes.

The village board approved letters that will go to other concerned agencies asking that the village of Mannsville be the lead agency for the state environmental quality review for the permit expansion. The board also approved a contract with Barton & Loguidice so the firm will assist with the necessary water studies and application submission.

And the board agreed to submit an incomplete water supply application for the permit expansion.

"We can apply now to get the ball rolling," Mr. Clark said.

The application may be submitted before SEQR and the water studies are complete. But Ellisburg needs the Mannsville permit approved so Ellisburg can claim that as a water source.

"We're trying to help them out," Mannsville Mayor David E. Gardner said.