Politics & Government
Waukesha Town Board is Noncommittal on Water Request
City asks town to approve town's inclusion in water service map.
After closely questioning water management officials and listening to public comment, the Waukesha Town Board tabled a request from the City of Waukesha to support expansion of the city’s water service area to include various parts of the town.
Instead, at the request of residents, the Waukesha Town Board decided that they will announce a “robust public participation process” about the issue at the upcoming annual town meeting Tuesday, April 12, Town Chairman Angie Van Scyoc said.
About 15 people attended the three-hour meeting, which at times was technical as the board questioned City of Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak and Michael Hahn, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) chief engineer.
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The City of Waukesha had requested that the town support the expansion of the city’s water service area in order to conform to a map that was submitted as part of their application to pull water from the Great Lakes basin.
As part of the application process, the Department of Natural Resources 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.
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The application is the result of the city 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.
“So if we would move forward with this application and the town would not be included, and then an issue would arise where the resident would want to request water from the City of Waukesha, we would not be able to provide that service unless the town went to the DNR and requested service and it was approved by the other Great Lakes states,” Duchniak said.
About 15 people attended the meeting, including three who publicly urged the Town Board to make sure residents were informed about the potential repercussions of being included in the map before approving the city’s request.
Town of Genesee voted last week to be included in the Waukesha’s water service area.
