Waukesha Inches Closer to Water Deal With Oak Creek

Negotiations continue with Racine, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but Milwaukee's out of water talks.

Officials serving on the Waukesha Common Council and on the Waukesha Water Utility could soon see what a potential water agreement will include with Oak Crek. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the water utility will meet in closed session Aug. 16 to discuss negotiations and a draft agreement between Waukesha and Oak Creek. Alderman Terry Thieme referenced the meeting during the Waukesha Common Council meeting Tuesday night during his water utility update. Discussions are continuing with Racine, according to the Milwaukee newspaper. Negotiations fell through with the third Lake Michigan supplier ­– Milwaukee – before talks could begin. Milwaukee is refusing to negotiate based on Waukesha’s future water service area. However, …

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Waukesha Water Rates Will Increase 27%

Wisconsin Public Service Commission approves Waukesha Water Utility's rate increase request as the city looks toward developing a new water supply.

Waukesha Water Utility will soon see the financial effects of the city’s search for a new water supply. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approved this week a 27 percent water rate increase. The rate increase was done in preparation for the water utility’s borrowing needs as it looks to develop a new water supply to meet a June 2018 deadline. The water increase is the first of a series of four or five water rate increases around 25 percent as the city’s looking at spending millions to address the decline in water quantity and quality. “This is the first of those increases,” said Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak. Waukesha requested a rate increase of $2.2 million – 25 percent – in December 2011. The Wisconsin Public…

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Paul Furrer

2:12 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012

Mr Edlund, one talked about grant is not the only Federal money that exists. Many people feel that the Federal Government is in part responsible for our problem via the EPA's radium level ruling and as such the Federal Government can help fund a solution. I'm not embarrassed to have our leaders ask. This rate increase is a done deal now but the larger questions remain. I'm willing to wait for …   more ›

Milwaukee Water Deal With Waukesha 'Prematurely Killed'

Milwaukee Common Council halts negotiations with Waukesha based on city's future service area; Waukesha expects water deal with Oak Creek or Racine in mid-August.

The Milwaukee Common Council has removed itself from negotiations as a potential water supplier of Lake Michigan water to Waukesha, city leaders say. Milwaukee is refusing to negotiate based on the city’s future water service area – set by officials with the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission – because it includes properties in the Town of Waukesha, Town of Genesee, Town of Delafield and the City of Pewaukee. The Milwaukee Common Council decided Friday morning it will only negotiate with Waukesha for its current water service area. “We are disappointed that Milwaukee prematurely killed this opportunity to negotiate a historic regional cooperation agreement with Waukesha,” said Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell in a …

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Steve Edlund

9:49 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

Since economics is important- a great lakes diversion is dead. According to the document "Waukesha Water Utility Great Lakes Water Supply Costs 2011 Dollars" submitted to the Public Service Commission with the current pending rate increase request, an Oak Creek Supply with return via Underwood Creek will cost $261 million. Return via Root River will cost $281 million. Return via Lake Michigan $…   more ›

Poll: Are you Sprinkling your Lawn?

The lack of rain in this area has turned the community brown.

Driving around Waukesha I sure see a lot of brown. It seems everywhere I look, instead of finding perfectly manicured green lawns that scream suburbia, I see dry grass. It’s not limited to the homes either. The medians are brown, the commercial properties are brown and even Frame Park is brown. The lack of rain in this area is taking its toll on the green grass we are accustomed to seeing in Waukesha. And it would appear the majority of the residents are adhering to the sprinkling ban. Odd-numbered street addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays prior to 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Even-numbered street addresses may water on Thursdays and Sundays prior to 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Take our poll and comment about what you think of this summer’…

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Need a New Toilet? Check out the Water Utility's Rebate Program

The first 50 Waukesha Water Utility customers who replace a high-volume (3.5 gallon or more per flush) toilet with a High-Efficiency WaterSense Toilet, that uses 1.28 gallons per flush, will receive the $100 rebate.

Waukesha Water Negotiations Stalling In Milwaukee

A Milwaukee alderman brings forward proposal that Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak says is essentially refusing to negotiate.

Water Utility Strengthens Conservation Plan

Since 2006, the water utility has already adopted the first daytime ban on sprinkling, the first conservation rate structure and the first toilet rebate program in the state.

Editor's Note: The following news release was submitted to Patch by the Waukesha Water Utility. The Waukesha Water Utility Commission approved an update of its Water Conservation Plan Thursday night to increase its conservation efforts. The utility’s goal is to achieve 365 million gallons of measurable water savings by 2050, or an estimated 10 percent of the total water that would have been used if not for conservation. “No matter where we get our water from, we must implement cost-effective conservation measures to protect the environment and reduce costs,” Commission President Dan Warren said. “We are proud to continue our longstanding water conservation leadership role in the Midwest.” Waukesha is seeking to switch from groundwater to …

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Water Utility Publishes Consumer Confidence Report

Report is available at water utility office and will be sent out with water bills.

Editor's Note: The following information was provided to Patch by the Waukesha Water Utility. The Waukesha Water Utility recently announced the publication of its 2012 consumer confidence report for 2011. The utility wants its customers to know about the water they drink. In conformance with EPA standards, the water utility summarized its water quality test results throughout 2011 into a report that will be distributed to all utility customers with their March, April and May utility bills. Additional copies of the report are also available for the general public at the utility or on our website at http://www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/waterhome. Please feel free to stop by the utility office at 115 Delafield St., or call 262-521-5272, if you have …

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Waukesha Responds to Lake Michigan Mayors' Water Application Questions

The land that is in Waukesha's future service area limits future industrial and commercial growth, according to letter from Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell.

The Waukesha Water Utility’s responded to a letter from mayors in Milwaukee, Oak Creek and Racine that took city officials by surprise as Waukesha’s looking to negotiate a deal to purchase Lake Michigan water from the three communities. The letter from mayors Tom Barrett, Al Foeckler and John Dickert questioned Waukesha about the city’s conservation measures, rate increase requests and water service area. All three communities are competitors against one another as Waukesha seeks a new water source, although Milwaukee authorities have not yet started negotiating with Waukesha. “Our need for a water supply is not about growth or gaining a competitive advantage,” Interim City Administrator Steve Crandell wrote in a response back to the three…

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Resident of O.C. Paul

8:08 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012

I know, Lake Michigan does not share a border with Canada, but is the 2nd lake in the chain, and is connected to the other lakes, and the other lakes do share borders with Canada, and what happens in one lake can have an effect on those down stream as the water of the great lakes flows from the high point of the system (Lake Superior) to the lowest point (St. Lawrence Seaway) and eventually out …   more ›

More Neighborhood Meetings Scheduled on Future Water Supply

Check out these meetings to learn more about the city’s Great Lakes diversion application, the problems that face the city’s well water supply and what the next steps are as the city meets a June 2018 deadline to remove radium from the water supply.

Have you heard about the problems the Waukesha Water Utility faces in developing a new water supply? Have you ever wished someone would ask a certain question about the Great Lakes water application and you wanted a clear answer? The Waukesha Water Utility and area aldermen are teaming together to hold neighborhood meetings about the city’s future water supply. The in-depth discussion includes a history of groundwater resources in Waukesha, where the city is at now and why the Waukesha Water Utility is seeking Lake Michigan water to address its long-term water needs. Here’s what happened at some other meetings: Members of the Waukesha Common Council and Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak are holding the meetings from 6:30 …

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