Politics & Government

Town of Genesee Wants to be in Waukesha's Future Water Service Area Map

Board votes to be included in map as Waukesha requests water from Great Lakes.

The Town of Genesee Board of Supervisors agreed Monday night that it wants to be included in the Waukesha Water Utility’s water service area as the city applies to pipe water from Lake Michigan through the Great Lakes Compact, according to Dan Duchniak, the utility’s general manager.

Portions of the Town of Genesee were placed on the map that is being submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as the city is attempting to address problems with a declining water quality and supply. The city has to reduce radium levels in its water source and include a reserve amount of radium-free water in case of system failures by June 2018.

The city is looking to pipe water from Milwaukee, Oak Creek or Racine and return it to Lake Michigan.

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While the Town of Genesee will remain on the map, that does not guarantee they will automatically receive Great Lakes water if the city’s application is approved. It simply gives them the option to receive Great Lakes water in the case of a well failure, Duchniak explained at recent water utility commission meetings.

The utility is still waiting for the Town of Waukesha to decide if it wants to be included in the water service area, Duchniak said. The Town of Waukesha is expected to vote on the issue March 24.

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The DNR is asking the communities to confirm they want to be on the water service area map before the DNR advances the application to other Great Lakes states.

In order for Waukesha to purchase Lake Michigan water, it needs the approval of all Great Lakes governors.


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