FAQ
Waukesha’s application to borrow water from the Great Lakes was thoroughly vetted and firmly rooted in science. Still, the topic of drinking water can be emotionally charged, and the passions it arouses can lead to a blurring of a line between myth and fact. In the section below, Waukesha Water Utility provides answers to common questions about the new water supply program, which has been formally named the Great Water Alliance™.
Frequently Answered Questions
For many years, water in Waukesha has been supplied through multiple wells located throughout the city. After the transition on October 9th, treated Lake Michigan water will be supplied by the City of Milwaukee to Waukesha’s water distribution system. Pump stations, storage reservoirs and other facilities will help deliver Lake Michigan water (currently about 6 million gallons a day, on average) to the Waukesha Water Utility (WWU) distribution system, achieving Waukesha’s long-term vision of ensuring a reliable supply for generations to come.
Waukesha has undertaken extensive studies to minimize temporary discolored water or other water quality issues during the transition to a new water supply. This includes testing samples of Waukesha water pipes with Milwaukee water to check for any reaction to the different water chemistry. The studies were carefully coordinated with state and federal regulators as well as other water quality experts and found no long-term adverse impacts of the water transition.
More than a dozen area communities have successfully switched from groundwater to Milwaukee water without water quality problems. As part of Waukesha’s ongoing commitment to ensuring safe, reliable water, Waukesha Water Utility will also continue to monitor the water quality at the Booster Pumping Station and within the distribution system to address any issues that may arise during or after the transition.
As our experts work to introduce a new and reliable water supply to over 300 miles of water pipelines in Waukesha, you may notice temporary changes, including a rusty color, or changes in the taste or smell. These changes are temporary. Although this water will meet regulatory standards, we encourage you to run water through your water pipes to clear up these aesthetic issues before consuming it. See more on flushing out your pipes below.
Once the transition has been completed, customers in the areas south and southeast of the Fox River will enjoy slightly higher water pressures due to the addition of the new water tower. In other areas, there should be no impacts on pressure for normal usage after the transition.
Lake Michigan water is at least 60% softer than groundwater, which will be a permanent benefit of the new water supply. For more information, see our FAQ about water softeners below.
One difference with the new water supply is a change in the disinfection process from chlorine (used by Waukesha) to chloramines (used by Milwaukee). Both are commonly used to ensure public health protection and the change should be unnoticeable. However, the switch to chloramine may affect some health treatments, so you may wish to consult your health care provider (see information on dialysis below). Owners of aquariums or fishponds should also consult local pet stores about required changes in water treatment (see below).
Waukesha is committed to keeping community members and businesses up to date as the transition date approaches. We have been in touch with many businesses as part of the water transition planning process in case they have special water supply requirements.
Businesses that treat their water for processes or products should consult water quality and treatment professionals to assist with making adjustments, if needed. Also, like residential customers, businesses should be aware that temporary discoloration could occur for a short period during the transition.
If you have questions about your own business needs or would like information about water chemistry, please visit our contact us page or call us (262) 521-5272 during the transition.
What type of special precautions do kidney dialysis patients have to take with the water transition?
Chloramines are used to treat Lake Michigan water from Milwaukee. Like chlorine, which has been used to treat Waukesha’s groundwater, the disinfectant must be removed from the water before it can be used in kidney dialysis machines. While GWA representatives continue to provide water transition updates to medical facilities, kidney dialysis patients should contact their physician or local kidney dialysis center before the water transition begins for guidance on modifications to home dialysis machines and procedures. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for and familiar with removing chloramines from the water that enters the dialysis machines.
While disinfection is essential and required to protect public health, chloramines, like the chlorine used for Waukesha’s groundwater, can be harmful to pet fish, reptiles and amphibians. Area pet stores should be familiar with precautions (inexpensive water treatment or specified carbon filters) to remove chloramines in the new water supply from water for aquariums, reptiles and amphibians. You can tell them that your new water supply will be from the Milwaukee Water Works, which is used by many area communities. Be sure to contact a pet supply store before the October 9th water supply transition for information.
Yes. Our experts are planning for a smooth water transition, including minimizing temporary impacts to customers. However, as with our annual pipe flushing in your neighborhood, your water can be temporarily colored as the normal buildup of minerals in the pipes is washed off. You may experience a similar temporary impact on your water during the water supply transition, as groundwater is flushed out and new water is introduced. In some neighborhoods, water may travel in a new direction, potentially causing temporarily discolored water.
The impacts in some areas may be greater than others or occur at different times. Many customers may not notice a change at all. Water could turn yellow, orange or brown for a short time from normal mineral buildup or sediment in pipes.
Discolored water is generally associated with iron in pipes and while aesthetically unappealing, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), iron does not pose an immediate human health issue.
If you experience discolored water:
- Flush the water pipes in your house with cold water.
- Delay activities such as washing clothes until the color goes away. If you do end up with color in your clothes, do not put them in the dryer because that can set the stain. You can use products like Red-B-Gone or Iron Out. You can get rust removers at local hardware stores, online or in small quantities from the Waukesha Water Utility (while supplies last).
- Avoid using the water and delay making ice until clear water once again flows from your pipes.
That is recommended. The normal buildup of sediment and minerals could break off from the inside of the water pipes during the transition, which can temporarily cause discolored water. This is similar to what happens during our annual flushing program.
Those minerals and sediment can also collect in water filters, causing them to reach their useful life prematurely. You can prevent that by removing or bypassing your in-home water filtration systems – like the ones used with some refrigerator water dispensers or attached to kitchen faucets – before the start of the transition. You should also bypass any reverse osmosis (RO) system, if you have one. You can resume using filters again in a normal manner after the transition, or after you’ve flushed your system (see FAQ below) and your water runs clear.
You should also bypass your water softener during the transition for the same reasons. See additional information on water softeners in FAQs further below.
Improving discolored water conditions is often as simple as flushing your water pipes to remove the accumulation of sediment. This optional procedure is outlined in the following steps.
Step 1: Remove the screens (called aerators) from the ends of the indoor faucets and run all of the cold-water faucets wide-open and simultaneously for three to five minutes.
Step 2: Flush the toilets two or three times each while the faucets are running. Running all the cold-water faucets and toilets simultaneously generates a large flow of water through the pipes and will generally dislodge any buildup of organic material that is causing the taste and odor problem sediment. Removing the aerators before flushing the plumbing will help prevent them from clogging.
Step 3: After three to five minutes of flushing, turn off the water faucets, clean the aerators, and reinstall the aerators on the ends of the faucets.
Flushing your water pipes is not expensive. While we all want to be wise with our water use, flushing four faucets and two bathtubs, for example, would use only 120 gallons at a cost of less than one dollar.
During the transition, as groundwater and Lake Michigan water supplies mix together, you could notice a temporary chlorine-like taste or smell more than usual. This is associated with the process to ensure a smooth transition from one supply to the other and should only occur for a day or two, if it is noticeable at all. The water is safe to drink and meets regulatory standards, although you may wish to flush your water pipes (see above) to address those types of issues. If you notice an unusual taste, smell or color for more than three days, please contact the Waukesha Water Utility at (262) 521-5272.
Once the transition is completed, you might notice a slight change in the taste because Lake Michigan water has less mineral content than our current groundwater. This new water supply, from the Milwaukee Water Works, is currently used and enjoyed by more than 860,000 people in 16 communities throughout our area.
Waukesha will switch from its existing groundwater supply to Lake Michigan water on October 9th for all of its water customers, including the small numbers outside of the city who were approved for service through the city’s Great Lakes Compact Application. The entire transition to 100% Lake Michigan water could take as long as one month, as it enters the supply system on the east side of Waukesha and travels through the city. However, any impacts at individual locations will likely only be noticeable for a week or less. The City has undertaken extensive analyses to ensure the introduction of this new supply will be as simple as possible for customers and will meet all water quality regulations throughout the transition process.
Yes. Waukesha will be switching to 100% Lake Michigan water. Lake water will only be mixed with our existing water supply during the transition period, which could last up to one month in some locations. After the transition, the water will be completely lake water. Blending of groundwater and lake water is not allowed under the approval under the Great Lakes Compact. The Waukesha Water Utility will continue to maintain some of its deep groundwater wells, but only for use in an emergency, as is allowed under the Great Lakes Compact and under our approvals.
Waukesha’s existing groundwater supply — a deep aquifer — is depleted, due in part to a natural formation (a thick layer of shale rock) that restricts rain and snowmelt from naturally percolating through the ground and recharging it. As water levels have decreased, levels of naturally occurring contaminants such as radium have increased. Long-term use of the aquifer is not sustainable. Continuing to pump groundwater until exhaustion would require expensive treatment to remove contaminants and be environmentally irresponsible.
Waukesha’s secondary water source is shallow groundwater wells. Adding new shallow groundwater wells would have permanent adverse environmental impacts on valued brooks and streams, as well as nearby wetland habitats in environmentally sensitive areas.
Currently, state regulators allow Waukesha Water Utility to operate while meeting radium standards on a flow-weighted average but, moving forward, we are obligated to come into compliance with the standards at all times. The switch to a new water supply allows us to do that.
The unanimous approval by the Great Lakes states under the Great Lakes Compact found that none of Waukesha’s alternatives to Great Lakes water are “reliable sources for a long-term, dependable, and sustainable public water supply.”
In fall of 2023 (likely October), your total water bill is expected to increase 14.7%. Another 15.4% increase is expected in the Fall of 2024.
Your water bill has three parts to it — water supply, return flow and wastewater. The water supply portion is increasing significantly in those years as the bulk of the costs of building the substantial infrastructure needed for the new Lake Michigan water supply are added to customer bills.
In July 2023, the Waukesha Water Utility sent customers a legally required notice that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission was considering a 42% increase in the fall of 2023 and a 35% increase in the fall of 2024 (or 91% total over the two years). That led many customers to believe their entire bill would increase by those amounts. In fact, only the water supply portion, which currently makes up less than half your bill, will increase by those amounts.
The average residential customer (using an average of 4,000 gallons of water per month) would have an increase of $15 (from $102 to $117 per month) in the fall of 2023 and $18 (to $135 per month) in the fall of 2024 in their total water bills. These rate estimates are in line with water rate projections made at the start of the project in 2016 and in a 2018 mailing to city residents about total water costs.
For more details about water rates and other aspects of the new water supply project, go to https://greatwateralliance.com/about/myth-vs-fact-faq/.
Waukesha is committed to keeping community members and customers up to date before, during and after the transition. We will keep customers informed about transition details via social media, water bills stuffers and other means, as well as on this Great Water Alliance website. You can also sign up to receive updates. You can contact us with additional questions at (262) 521-5272. You can also follow the Great Water Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.
Milwaukee is the largest supplier of fresh water in Wisconsin. Almost half the residents of southeast Wisconsin drink water from Milwaukee. Waukesha will join nearly 900,000 consumers in 16 communities that are already served by the Milwaukee Water Works. More than a dozen communities have switched from groundwater to Milwaukee water from Lake Michigan. Delivery of Milwaukee water to Waukesha has been a great display of regional cooperation throughout the entire area.
Delivery of high-quality, reliable water to customers is and will continue to be the city’s top water service priority. Waukesha’s water will be safe to drink and meet state and federal regulations during the switch to a new water supply. The transition process has been approved by regulators. We certainly understand that discoloration, taste and odor can be aesthetically unappealing, so consider running your water until it runs clear before use. It is a personal choice whether to use a filter or bottled water during this temporary transition period.
Any person or business with special water requirements should consult their water treatment specialist or physician to address individual needs. Special populations, such as people with weak immune systems (e.g., transplant patients or people with AIDS) should check with their physicians before consuming any type of drinking water, including bottled water.
It’s your choice. Whether or not to use a softener is a matter of personal preference. Some users will choose to remove their softeners after Waukesha switches from groundwater to Lake Michigan water from Milwaukee on October 9th. Lake Michigan water will be at least 60% softer than our current water supply.
It has been found that many water customers object to hardness of more than 9 grains per gallon. Waukesha’s current groundwater supply averages around 21 grains per gallon. Therefore, most of Waukesha’s customers currently use water softeners.
Waukesha will transition to 100% Lake Michigan water from Milwaukee on October 9th. Water from the lake, at 8 grains, is below the level of hardness that many people would object to. Most users of Milwaukee water — including those who have switched from groundwater — choose not to use water softeners.
If you are considering getting a new softener, you may want to wait until after the switch to Lake Michigan water to determine your satisfaction with unsoftened water before investing in a new softener. If you currently have a water softener, we recommend that you bypass your water softener during the transition and for a month or two once the transition is complete to determine your satisfaction with unsoftened water. You may also want to ask friends in the 16 communities that use Milwaukee water about their experience with softening.
Like many other communities, Waukesha must meet federal chloride standards for wastewater. Softener salt is the largest source of chlorides in the wastewater discharges by the Clean Water Plant. Chlorides are harmful to fish and other aquatic life in rivers and other bodies of water.
We need to reduce chloride levels or else wastewater costs for all users will go up significantly. There is no cost-effective way to remove softener salt at the Clean Water Plant, so we need to reduce the level of use at homes and businesses.
If you choose to continue using your water softener after the transition to 100% Lake Michigan water, you must have it optimized. That means having an approved optimizer adjust settings for hardness, salt dosage and reserve capacity. Optimizing your softener, including adjusting for the hardness level of Lake Michigan water, can achieve as much as 80% of the salt reduction that would be realized by removing your softener. That should save you money without a noticeable change in water quality.
For most users, the deadline for optimizing their softeners will be Jan. 1, 2025, and no action is required at this time. However, high-volume water users (more than 80,000 gallons per year) must optimize by Sept. 1, 2023, or as soon as can be scheduled, in order for us to demonstrate progress on meeting the chloride standards. High-volume users have already received letters from the city explaining the requirements. If the city does not show progress on meeting the standard, it may be forced into other options, including eliminating the choice on whether or not to keep your water softener.
If your softener is a time-clock unit, it must still be optimized. If you wish to continue softening after the switch to Lake Michigan water, we encourage you to replace your time-clock softener because it uses much more salt than modern softeners.
You can learn more about the water softener optimization program and find a list of approved optimizers at the city’s website here. Or call the Waukesha Clean Water Plant at (262) 524-3628 for additional information.
No. Milwaukee’s water treatment facilities are among the most advanced in the country. The Water Works has technology and redundancies to ensure that Waukesha will have a constant flow of reliable, high-quality water for decades to come.
Although some people remember the Cryptosporidium outbreak, it is important to remember that it was almost 30 years ago. Milwaukee’s response set a national standard for public health protection. It addressed the issue with advanced technology, including ozone disinfection and upgraded filtration, as well as continuous monitoring. It also moved its intake pipe farther and deeper into Lake Michigan.
For an in-depth look at Milwaukee’s advanced levels of water treatment, see this WTMJ-TV segment.
No. Sewer overflows have been significantly reduced in Milwaukee, but those that do occur are not a threat to drinking water from the Milwaukee Water Works. Milwaukee’s water intake pipe is far from shore and deep in Lake Michigan. In addition, the Milwaukee Water Works treats the water with ozone disinfection, biologically active filtration, and chloramine disinfection. It is also nationally recognized as a leader for its comprehensive water quality monitoring program.
Waukesha will continue to rely on its own Clean Water Plant to apply advanced levels of treatment to its wastewater before returning it to the Lake Michigan basin. Our wastewater will not go to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and will not be affected by overflows or backups in that system.
There are no city-owned lead pipes in the Waukesha water system or risk of lead in the pipes bringing water from Milwaukee to Waukesha. Milwaukee uses an effective lead corrosion inhibitor to address the potential issues with in-home plumbing that can contain lead, like copper pipe solders or brass fixtures in older (pre-1980s) homes. However, if you have concerns about the plumbing in your home, you may want to have the water inside your home tested. For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.
A: The project includes the construction of a supply pipeline from Milwaukee to Waukesha, a return pipeline to bring treated water back to the Lake Michigan watershed, two booster pumping stations, two other pumping stations, two concrete reservoirs, and an outfall facility on the Root River.
A: The best place to find information is right here on our website. You can also subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter to get program updates sent directly to your inbox.
Another way to keep up to date with the program is by following us on Facebook (@GWASocial), Twitter (@GWA_Social), and YouTube (Great Water Alliance).
A: After thorough research of multiple routes and several public outreach meetings, a preferred route was selected based on the feasibility of construction and cost. This route also minimizes impacts on the public right-of-way, minimizes environmental impacts, and maintains steady traffic flow. Visit the preferred route section of the website to track construction in your neighborhood.
A: The work zone will move as the pipeline is constructed and installed. Basically, a trench is dug, the pipe is installed, the trench is backfilled, and the road is restored. Heavy construction equipment like excavators and trucks will be involved. In some locations, specialized tunneling equipment will be used to minimize traffic and environmental impact.
A: Segments of roadway will be closed throughout the construction process for the safety of the public and the construction crews, though local access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. Roads will be closed in sections for a few weeks to a few months to allow for efficient construction and safety while minimizing impacts on the area.
A: Construction is anticipated to begin in 2020 and last into 2023. Typical construction activities will occur during the week from 7 AM to 7 PM. In select cases, construction might occur over the weekend or at night to minimize traffic impacts.
When construction begins, you can find more exact schedules, road closure information, and other notifications right here on the website.
A: Detours will be in place throughout construction. Specifics will be shared as construction progresses. Find up-to-date information on the In Your Area section of the website. Local traffic for residents and businesses will be maintained through the use of flagging operations in work zones.
A: Duration of construction in a specific area will typically last a few months. Crews will install approximately 100 feet of pipeline per day depending on the site. Following installation, road restoration will take place. Temporary access will be maintained until the final pavement is complete.
A: Even with road closures and detours, we will maintain access to residents and businesses at all times throughout the construction process.
A: The Great Water Alliance will communicate with residents and businesses in advance about any access impacts construction may cause, and access to businesses will be coordinated and maintained at all times. While roadways are closed, the duration and extent of impact to parking will vary and could last for a few weeks to a few months.
A: In some locations, nighttime construction may be necessary. In general, though, construction at night requires additional safety measures, can increase the cost of construction, can increase the time spent in a given area, and can cause additional residential disruptions from light and noise.
A: A dust control plan will be in place to reduce the impacts on the surrounding area.
A: Yes. Metal plates are typically used at the end of a construction shift to safely cover open excavation and to minimize traffic impacts and allow road lanes to be open. There are quality control requirements in place to ensure that metal plates are placed safely and speed limit signage is appropriate where metal plates are present.
A: All traffic control plans will be approved by local authorities, including the cities, counties, and WisDOT, before they are implemented to ensure they meet industry standards for traffic signage and management. Detour signs will divert traffic from roadways with construction to other similar roads. The construction management team will be monitoring the traffic during construction and be available to address public concerns.
A: Impacts on sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes are taken into consideration and will be addressed in the traffic control plans. Safety is our priority. Pedestrian detours with signage will be provided to stay safely out of the construction work zone.
A: Construction equipment and activities can be noisy, but construction crews will minimize noise whenever possible. The contractor will be required to meet all noise ordinances for construction activities. Construction hours will be mostly limited to 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday.
Construction could occur in select areas on the weekends or at night to minimize public traffic impacts and will be coordinated with the local community.
A: There are strict quality requirements for road restoration activities including paving, striping, and signage. Roads impacted by construction will be restored to pre-construction conditions, meeting all quality and local requirements.
A: Yes, residents and businesses along the pipeline route will be notified by a door hanger with detailed information a minimum of 14 days prior to construction starting in the area. The In Your Area section of the website will be kept up-to-date with the latest construction information.
A: The In your Area section of the website will be kept up-to-date with the latest construction information.
A: You can sign up to receive the Great Water Alliance E-Newsletter which is distributed every other month. Sign up here on the website.
A: Emails that are sent to the program email address are received by the Waukesha Water Utility and the Program Management team. Emails are not sold or distributed.
A: Please contact the Waukesha Water Utility at 262-521-5272 and leave a voicemail with your name, question, and contact information. A Program representative will respond within one business day.
A: We will work with residents and business owners to maintain access at all times during construction and take measures to minimize impacts to your business. The Waukesha Water Utility will notify businesses in advance about project schedules and construction activities, so business owners can plan accordingly. These pipelines will be constructed in the public right-of-way.
A: Please contact the Waukesha Water Utility at 262-521-5272 and leave a voicemail with your name, question, and contact information. A Program representative will respond within one business day.
A: You can contact a representative by calling the Waukesha Water Utility, 262-521-5272, or by email right here on the website.
A: Two reasons: The ongoing costs of operating and maintaining existing infrastructure for both water supply and sewer services, and the costs of switching to a new water supply.
Waukesha has undertaken a large capital project to switch to a Lake Michigan water supply in late summer 2023, to ensure that our community has reliable and safe drinking water for the long term.
A: Our current water supply is unreliable for the long-term needs of our community.
Our current primary groundwater source is depleted. It also has excessive amounts of natural contaminants, including radium, and we face a September 2023 deadline to provide water that fully complies with federal drinking water standards. We must address both these issues. Doing nothing is not an option.
More than 15 years of study convinced city leaders that we must switch to Lake Michigan water. All 10 Great Lakes states and provinces agreed with our conclusion that using and returning lake water is the only reasonable option.
There is no cheaper alternative. Increasing treatment for radium contamination, for example, would only be an expensive, short-term Band-Aid.
Our switch to Lake Michigan water on October 9th will ensure that city residents and businesses have a water supply that is safe, reliable and sustainable for the long term, helping ensure that our city is a desirable place to live now and for generations to come.
A: Several years of planning and permitting is complete and construction began in late 2020. The project will be completed in 2023.
A: Water bills cover the costs of supplying drinking water and then treating the wastewater.
The water supply part of your bill pays for the infrastructure, testing and people needed to obtain water, to treat it and to deliver high-quality water to your home. It covers the costs of constructing, maintaining, and replacing the necessary pipes and treatment facilities. For the average residential customer in Waukesha, the water supply charge in 2022 was approximately $36 per month.
In 2018, Waukesha added a return flow charge to pay the costs of building and operating a return flow system. That includes the required 23-mile pipeline that will recycle Lake Michigan water back to the Great Lakes Basin. The average return flow charge in 2022 was approximately $17 per month.
The other half of your water bill is the wastewater charge, which pays for collecting and treating the wastewater you generate and then returning it to the environment as clean water. The average wastewater charge was approximately $42 per month in 2022.
In all, the total water bill for Waukesha residential customers with an average monthly water usage of 4,000 gallons added up to about $95 per month in 2022.
A: No. A reliable water supply makes Waukesha a better place to live. Homeowners, renters and business owners all want to know that they can count on dependable, clean water. Any differences in water charges between communities will be too small to affect property values.
A: The total cost of the project to provide a long-term, safe drinking water supply is estimated at $286 million.
The project is on time and on budget.
A: Water bill increases will be on target with previous estimates.
Total water bills will increase over the next several years to reflect the increasing costs of regular operations and maintenance, as well as the costs of the new water supply project. Despite dramatic increases in the general costs of supplies, equipment, materials and labor, the rate estimates are in line with water rate projections made at the start of the project in 2016 and in a 2018 mailing to city residents about total water costs.
Total water bills include wastewater and return flow charges, along with the water supply rates. For a residence using an average of 4,000 gallons per month, rates are estimated to increase from the January 2023 level of $102 per month on the following projected schedule:
- October 2023, to $117 per month (+14.7%).
- October 2024, to $135 per month (+15.4%).
- January 2026, to $147 per month (+8.9%).
- January 2027, to $154 per month (+4.8%).
Rates will increase most significantly in the fall of 2023 and 2024, when Great Water Alliance construction costs are accounted for. The city explored the possibility of smoothing out increases over additional years, but that would not comply with protocols of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which sets the water supply rates.
Please note that the projected 42% increase in the fall of 2023 and a 35% increase in the fall of 2024 (or 91% total over the two years) that customers were notified of are not for your entire bill. Those increases are only for water supply rates, which currently make up less than half your total water bill.
A: Yes. You can reduce your costs by reducing or eliminating your water softener use with the new water supply.
Lake Michigan water will be at least 60% softer than the groundwater supply. Whether or not to continue using a softener after the transition will be a matter of personal preference. Those who continue using their softeners should use much less salt than before.
It has been found that many water customers object to hardness of more than 9 grains per gallon. Waukesha’s current groundwater supply averages around 21 grains per gallon.
Water from Lake Michigan, at 8 grains, is below the level of hardness that many people would object to. Most users of Milwaukee water — including those who have switched from groundwater — choose not to use water softeners.
If you are considering getting a new softener, you may want to wait until after the switch to Lake Michigan water to determine your satisfaction with unsoftened water before investing in a new softener. You may also want to ask friends in the 16 communities that use Milwaukee water about their experience with softening.
If you choose to continue using your water softener, you must have it optimized. This requirement is the result of federal and state chloride standards that Waukesha must meet. Softener salt is the largest source of chlorides in the wastewater discharges by the Clean Water Plant. Chlorides are harmful to fish and other aquatic life in rivers and other bodies of water.
Optimization means having an approved optimizer adjust settings for hardness, salt dosage and reserve capacity. Optimizing your softener, including adjusting for the hardness level of Lake Michigan water, can achieve as much as 80% of the salt reduction that would be realized by removing your softener. That should save you money without a noticeable change in water quality and will help the city meet the chloride standards for the discharge to the Fox and Root Rivers.
You can learn more about the deadlines for meeting the optimization requirements and find a list of approved optimizers at the city’s website here.
No. Water meters are replaced periodically in order to ensure that your water use is accurately measured. This ongoing meter replacement program is required by state regulators but is not related to the switch to Lake Michigan water.
You will receive a letter from the Waukesha Water Utility when it is time for the meter at your address to be changed. It can be done with very little disruption to your water service. A service technician will come to your home/business, at no charge, to remove the existing meter, and install a new one. The meter changeout occurs every 20 years or so.
Yes, Waukesha offers irrigation rates for outdoor water use with the installation of an irrigation meter. While the irrigation meter eliminates paying wastewater charges, the meter is only cost-effective if a customer uses at least 19,900 gallons of outdoor water per year.
For costs and other information about the Irrigation Meter program, including an application, visit Waukesha Water Utility Customer Service – Permits and Applications or call the Waukesha Water Utility at 262-521-5272.
Please note that the sewer credit meter program was discontinued in 2016. That change was among many conservation measures the city adopted because it was required to reduce water use by 10%. It was also discontinued because the costs to administer the program were passed on to all water users. The costs to administer the new Irrigation Meter program are paid only by the irrigation users.
A: City and Waukesha Water Utility officials are doing all they can to reduce the financial impacts.
For example, the city worked with the federal government, including our Congressmen and Senators, to receive low-cost financing that will reduce interest costs by about $1 million per year. Our local state legislators also helped with improvements in terms for state infrastructure loans. Additionally, our agreement to purchase water from the City of Milwaukee has been estimated to save the average residential ratepayer more than $200 per year, compared to other suppliers, keeping approximately $4 million per year in the Waukesha economy.
It is important to remember that water or wastewater projects are not funded with property tax dollars. It is the rates paid by users that pay the costs.
A: Yes, conservation rebates and information on saving water are on our utility site.
Waukesha is a leader in water conservation efforts. You can find information on our rebate programs for rain barrels, as well as water-saving toilets and showerheads, at our utility website, www.Waukesha-Water.com. The site also has tips on how to conserve water, facts about when sprinkling is allowed in Waukesha and information about our education programs. Businesses can also find information on conservation incentives at the site. Or call us at (262) 521-5272.
The City has done such a great job with water conservation that we have already met the goals required by the Great Lakes Compact approval by 2050. With water and sewer rates based on the volume of water used, conserving water will also save you money.
A: The Great Water Alliance website is a great way to stay informed.
Follow us
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Call Waukesha Water Utility
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And you can learn more about utility issues and water conservation — including rebates for rain barrels and water-saving toilets and showerheads — at www.Waukesha-Water.com.
A: The taste of water that’s sourced from Lake Michigan may be slightly different than Waukesha’s current groundwater because it will have less mineral content.
While taste preferences are subjective, it’s important to remember that millions of people drink and enjoy freshwater from the Great Lakes every day, including those in many Wisconsin communities.
A: This will be a personal decision each customer will need to make. The City of Waukesha is encouraging residents to optimize their softeners because they contribute to higher salt levels in waterways. At a minimum, the softener regeneration cycle can be scaled back significantly because the new water will be at least 60% softer than the current supply.
A: The biggest change with the switch from groundwater to the new Lake Michigan supply is that the water coming into homes and businesses will be at least 60% softer. In other words, it will have much less calcium and magnesium in it. There will also be less total dissolved solids, including iron, and manganese. The water will also be good for your dishwasher, your washing machine and your hot water heater because there will be much less mineral build-up.
Waukesha Water Utility will keep its customers informed about the transition to a new water supply in 2023. Please check back for updates and also sign up for our newsletter.
A: Waukesha’s new water program will be funded through several sources that will all impact rates.
The sale of bonds, low-interest state and federal loans, and federal grant money will pay for the project. Of course, as the beneficiaries of the program, customers of the Waukesha Water Utility will ultimately pay for the project through increased rates. The water portion of the bill — typically about half of the total bill, which includes wastewater charges will triple in coming years. However, residents in the service area are, by and large, viewing the increase as a vital investment in their community’s future. For more information go to Waukesha’s In Your Area page and click “read more.”
A: Waukesha Water Utility held 11 open houses to get input on possible water supply pipeline routes from Milwaukee to Waukesha. This helped us identify routes that reduced construction impacts on residents. After months of analysis, we identified a preferred route and conducted further investigations in 2018. The preferred route will use existing rights-of-way and transportation corridors for most of its length. You can find maps and more information here.
A similar process was used to determine the route for the return flow pipeline from Waukesha to Franklin, where the treated water will enter the Root River.
Construction is expected to start in 2020 and be complete in 2023. Please check back for updates and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on pipeline routes and construction plans.
A: Waukesha is required to complete the new water supply by September 2023. The project will take several years to plan and build. The Waukesha Water Utility is currently working with consultants on program management, project design, pipeline routes, permitting, public outreach planning, and more to ensure on-time delivery of this important project. Construction is expected to begin in 2020 and be complete in 2023. As work progresses, we’ll be reaching out to people in the affected communities on a regular basis.
Please check back for updates and also sign up for our newsletter.
A: No. About 473 — or 94% — of the more than 500 municipal wastewater treatment plants in Wisconsin discharge treated flow into rivers.
Only 22 flow directly to the Great Lakes and 8 flow directly to inland lakes. Federal and state regulations protect water quality and communities that are downstream of municipal discharges, and Waukesha’s return flow will meet all permit limits.
The only thing unusual about Waukesha’s discharge is its high quality. Only a handful of communities in Wisconsin have treatment processes that are as advanced as those used by Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant.
A: No. There will be no risk of a sewer overflow to the Great Lakes from Waukesha.
Waukesha has separate storm sewers and sanitary sewers, unlike some communities with combined sewer overflow problems. So Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant is not overwhelmed during heavy rain. In addition, the return flow pump station is designed so that only fully treated water can reach the pumps and pipes that will send the return flow back to Lake Michigan. Waukesha is legally bound by permit requirements and the Compact to return only treated, clean water to Lake Michigan.
A: Waukesha’s return flow will help improve the fishery and support fish stocking programs in the Great Lakes Basin.
The base flow of the Root River has been reported since 1966 to be too low to support water quality, recreation, and fisheries goals in the watershed. The Department of Natural Resources and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission have explored adding to the volume of water in the river for decades, but have been unable to augment the river’s flow because the costs were too high.
During the summer and fall, some sections of the river have very low flow, adversely affecting the fish migration from Lake Michigan. Increased flows would improve river habitat and aid the fishery, particularly during fall spawning runs of salmon and trout. At the Root River Steelhead Facility, for instance, the clean water of Waukesha’s return flow will increase river levels by 6.6 inches during low flow periods, improving fish passage.
According to the data, increasing the stream flow will be beneficial to our fisheries program goals or the Root River and Lake Michigan. Not only would increased flows have a positive impact on the number of fish entering the river and to our facility, it is also likely that the angling experiences would be expanded because, with more water, there could be more places to fish below the Horlick Dam. Then, with higher flows, fish may enter the river earlier and stay in the river for longer periods, thereby extending the angling season for these anadromous fish.
Waukesha will borrow (and return) up to 8.2 million gallons a day from Lake Michigan. This may seem like a large amount, but during high-flow events, the return flow is inconsequential compared to the total volume of water in the river. For example, during the June 2008 storm, the Root River flow measured a little over 5.2 billion gallons. Waukesha’s added outflow would have meant an increase of just 0.15%.
A: No, return flow to the Root River will protect water quality because the water will meet all state and federal water quality limits. For some substances — for example, phosphorus — return flow water quality will be cleaner than that of the river itself.
Discharging to a river or stream is the norm throughout the country. In Wisconsin alone, approximately 94% of the over 500 wastewater utilities discharge to a river or stream.
Waukesha’s discharge to the Root River in Franklin will have stricter permit limits than existing area wastewater discharges to the Root River and other rivers, or directly to Lake Michigan. Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant uses advanced treatment processes that are matched by only a handful of municipalities in the state.
In approving Waukesha’s application, the Great Lakes Compact Council, made up of eight governors, unanimously concluded that the program’s return flow will benefit the Root River. You can learn more about the findings here.
A: For City of Waukesha residents, the program will provide water that’s safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable.
Water rates will increase to cover the expense of this vital project. Most, but not all, of the construction impacts will be outside of Waukesha, starting in 2020. There will be additional issues to consider during the switchover to Lake Michigan water in 2023, and Waukesha Water Utility will keep customers informed about what to expect.
For communities along the pipeline routes, there will be some inconveniences during construction, since most of the pipeline will be built alongside existing roads. However, we are developing plans to minimize those impacts and to ensure that the public is well-informed. Please check back for updates and also sign up for our newsletter.
Waukesha Water Utility is committed to keeping the lines of communication clear and open throughout the process.
A: No. Very few other communities are likely to apply for diversions under the Great Lakes Compact.
The Compact bans diversions of Great Lakes water. The two exceptions are for “Straddling Communities” and “Communities in Straddling Counties.” The strict criteria require that the borders of the community itself — or the county in which it is situated — must straddle the Great Lakes surface water divide to even apply for water. This means, very few communities and other counties would even qualify to apply for a diversion.
It should be noted that withdrawing and returning water over long distances is extremely expensive, and typically requires geographic proximity to a large municipal water supply within the Great Lakes Basin. A community in a straddling county — like Waukesha — needs to demonstrate that it has no reasonable water supply alternative and get the approval of all eight Great Lakes governors. For the small number of communities that do meet these criteria, the successful Waukesha application sets a strong precedent for protecting public health and the environment.
A: Great Lakes supporters, environmentalists, proponents of good government planning, fishing enthusiasts, public health advocates, and the citizens of Southeast Wisconsin.
Of course, residents of the City of Waukesha, who need a safe and reliable supply of drinking water, will be the primary beneficiary. Residents of Milwaukee will also benefit from new revenues for the Milwaukee Water Works. But in a very real sense, every person who lives and works in the Great Lakes Basin area will gain from knowing that the Compact Council was able to balance the need for access to clean drinking water with the imperative to maintain environmental sustainability. Waukesha’s application proved that the Great Lakes Compact works. This ensures they will be protected for generations to come.
A: Treated, clean water will be returned to Lake Michigan via the Root River on a daily basis, in an amount equal to the average daily volume withdrawn during the previous calendar year.
The amount lost to consumption is made up because some rainfall, snowmelt, and shallow groundwater is also treated as part of the return flow. The Clean Water plant treats on average 20% to 40% more than the water pumped to the customers of the Waukesha Water Utility. Therefore, we can return about 100% of the amount that is withdrawn from the Great Lakes. Any water beyond that will be discharged through Waukesha’s existing outlet to the Fox River. An analysis of the years 2005 through 2012 shows that the percentage of water returned in each of those years would have ranged from 99.6% to 100.8%, compared to the volume withdrawn the previous year.
A: No. Waukesha’s use of Lake Michigan water and return flow to Lake Michigan will result in no negative impact on Great Lakes levels.
The Great Lakes Compact requires that Waukesha return all borrowed water, less consumptive use (such as from residents watering their gardens), back to the Great Lakes Basin. This legal requirement sets a positive precedent for protecting Great Lakes water levels. Waukesha will actually exceed this requirement and will return the same amount it borrows from Lake Michigan.
Waukesha’s future average daily withdrawal will be less than 1/1,000,000th of 1% of the volume of the Great Lakes. To put this in perspective, the amount borrowed is the equivalent of dipping out one teaspoon from an Olympic-sized swimming pool — and then putting it back.
A: The City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will provide water to Waukesha under a 2017 agreement.
Milwaukee’s water treatment plants are among the most advanced in the country and will provide reliable, high quality water. Great Lakes water from Milwaukee will save Waukesha residential customers an average of more than $200 annually per household, compared to other suppliers.
Milwaukee will benefit from new revenue from selling the water to Waukesha.
At no stage will water supplied to Waukesha be conveyed through any lead pipes. Milwaukee has said it will use revenues from the new water deal to help solve lead pipe problems that affect some of its own customers.
Waukesha’s wastewater will continue to be treated by Waukesha’s own high-quality Clean Water Plant.
A: Yes. Federal standards for the maximum levels of radium in drinking water are set to prevent increased health risks for people who drink the water over many years.
Currently, state regulators allow Waukesha Water Utility to operate while meeting radium standards on a weighted average, but moving forward we are obligated to come into compliance with the standards at all times. The switch to a new water supply allows us to do that.
Providing safe, reliable drinking water to customers is the top priority for Waukesha Water Utility. Waukesha’s water is safe to drink today…and will be even safer to drink once the new water supply is up and running.
A: No. The City of Waukesha is largely developed. Population growth will be very limited, and new development will be predominantly infill.
The approval of Waukesha’s application legally limits the geographic footprint of Waukesha’s water supply area primarily to the city. Less than 3% of the approved service area is outside the city limits, including 26 acres in Pewaukee that are already served by the city, as well as town “islands” — also currently served — that are surrounded by the city. Waukesha needs a new water supply to sustainably meet the needs of existing residents, not to support additional growth.
A: No. While water conservation is important in satisfying both Waukesha’s water needs and the terms of the Compact, it cannot save enough water to avoid the need for a new, sustainable water supply.
Waukesha will continue to be a leader in water conservation. It has already adopted the first daytime ban on sprinkling, the first conservation rate structure, and the first high-efficiency toilet rebate program in the state. Waukesha also remains committed to ongoing public education and outreach about both existing and expanded conservation efforts.
Continued reliance on groundwater, however, would require water and energy-intensive treatment for the removal of contaminants such as radium, total dissolved salts (TDS) and strontium from the deep aquifer, and arsenic from the shallow aquifer. The volume of water wasted would exceed the volume of water saved through conservation. Beyond that, it is not environmentally responsible.
A: Adding an expensive radium removal system to treat deep aquifer wells and developing more shallow wells does not address the primary issue — providing the City with a long-term, sustainable, and reliable water supply.
In addition to radium, groundwater quality issues include high total dissolved salts (TDS) and strontium in the deep aquifer, and arsenic in the shallow aquifer. Treatment systems to remove these contaminants would be energy intensive and generate concentrated waste pollutants that are difficult to treat and dispose of. The extra volume of water needed for such treatment systems would be more than the volume saved through the City’s conservation program.
The Great Lakes option is the only reasonable alternative because it is the best way to protect public health and the environment for the long term. Unlike groundwater options in the area, a Lake Michigan water supply is environmentally sustainable because Waukesha will recycle and return all of the water volume back to the Lake after use and treatment.
A: A thick layer of shale rock restricts recharge of Waukesha’s primary water source, the deep aquifer.
This shale layer covers much of southeastern Wisconsin (including Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties, and most of Waukesha County) as well as northeastern Illinois. The limited natural recharge of rain and snowmelt to the deep aquifer has contributed to depletion (or drawdown) of the aquifer. The depletion is also the result of decades of pumping by multiple municipal water systems and industries all across southeastern Wisconsin.
Waukesha’s leaders recognized this lack of sustainability and have examined water supply alternatives for decades. They have determined that Lake Michigan is the only reasonable water supply alternative.
The Great Lakes states that approved Waukesha’s proposal unanimously agreed, saying, “The groundwater depletion, along with the radium contamination issue, demonstrates that the deep aquifer is not a sustainable or safe source of water for the people served by the Applicant.”
A: Waukesha is an older, developed city of 72,000 people that is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It lies about 17 miles west of Lake Michigan and 1.5 miles from the Great Lakes Basin surface water divide.
The City of Waukesha is the county seat of Waukesha County. As the primary urban area for the county, it is home to a historic downtown, a mass transit system, and an established community of increasing diversity. A visitor to Waukesha would find many similarities to other small cities throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
A: Waukesha’s existing primary groundwater supply does not comply with safe drinking water standards and is environmentally unsustainable.
The unanimous approval by the Great Lakes states found that none of Waukesha’s alternatives to Great Lakes water are “reliable sources for a long-term, dependable, and sustainable public water supply.”
The existing water supply — a deep aquifer — is depleted, due in part to a natural formation (a thick layer of shale rock) that restricts rain and snowmelt from naturally percolating through the ground and recharging it. As water levels have decreased, levels of naturally occurring contaminants such as radium have increased. Long-term use of the aquifer is not sustainable, and continuing to pump it until exhaustion would be expensive to treat to remove contaminants and environmentally irresponsible.
Waukesha’s secondary water source is shallow groundwater wells. Adding new shallow groundwater wells would have permanent environmental impacts on valued brooks and streams, as well as nearby wetland habitats in environmentally sensitive areas.
Myth vs. Fact
MYTH: Waukesha's use of Great Lakes water will be harmful to the Great Lakes.
FACT – The Great Water Alliance will result in the withdrawal of less than 1/1,000,000th of 1% of Great Lakes water per day. This is equal to the volume which evaporates from the Great Lakes, on average, every seven seconds. Most importantly, the same amount borrowed will be treated and returned to Lake Michigan as treated, clean water, ensuring no impact on lake levels or water quality.
MYTH: The new program’s return flow will damage the Root River.
FACT – Waukesha’s level of treatment is matched by only a handful of municipalities in the state. The clean water that Waukesha returns to the Root River in Franklin will be higher in quality and have stricter permit limits than existing area wastewater currently being discharged into it and other rivers. The Great Water Alliance will result in a net improvement of water quality in the Root River, and will achieve an increase in base flow volume that has been sought for more than 50 years.
In addition to expanding the amount of river habitat and aiding the Root River Steelhead egg collection facility, the Great Water Alliance will improve overall fishing and recreation opportunities on this important Lake Michigan tributary.
MYTH: Approval of Waukesha's request sets a precedent for Great Lakes water to be sent to communities in California or other far-away places.
FACT – The Great Lakes Compact, an agreement between the Great Lakes states that governs water-use decisions, prohibits Great Lakes water from going beyond the boundary of counties that straddle the Great Lakes Basin divide. The City of Waukesha is one of a very small number of communities that are likely to ever meet the criteria necessary to borrow Great Lakes water.
MYTH: Waukesha can simply continue to rely on groundwater and does not really need Great Lakes Water.
FACT – The deep aquifer used by Waukesha and other communities in SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois is severely depleted, due to a combination of over-pumping and a natural formation (a thick layer of shale rock) that restricts recharge of the aquifer from rain and snowmelt. Continued use of this aquifer is not sustainable for the long term. The aquifer also has high levels of naturally occurring radium that exceed federal health standards.
MYTH: Waukesha could have avoided the need for Lake Michigan water with more conservation.
FACT – Waukesha has been a leader in water conservation, and is required by the terms of our approved application to continue efforts in the future. The city's water conservation plan includes a daytime ban on sprinkling, a rate structure that incentivizes conservation, and the first toilet rebate program in the state. They are ahead of schedule on our goal to achieve significant, measurable water savings of 10%, through conservation, by 2050.
Conservation alone cannot meet our community's need for a long-term alternative to the depleted aquifer.
MYTH: The purpose of Waukesha's New Water Supply Program is to promote growth.
FACT – Waukesha is already developed, and will see only very limited population growth in the coming decades. Less than 3% of the approved service area is outside the city limits, including 26 acres in Pewaukee that are already served by the city, as well as town “islands” — also currently served — that are surrounded by the city. Waukesha needs a new water supply to sustainably meet the needs of existing residents, not to support additional growth.
MYTH: This approval opens the door to hundreds or thousands of additional communities seeking water from the Great Lakes Basin.
FACT – Very few communities are even eligible to apply for diversions under the Great Lakes Compact, and even fewer are likely to do so. The Compact bans the diversion of water to any community that is outside the basin, unless it or the county in which it sits straddles the subcontinental divide. They must also prove that no reasonable alternative exists. For the small number of communities that do meet these criteria, the Waukesha application sets a strong precedent for protecting public health and the environment.
MYTH: The Compact states that the Great Lakes must be the "last resort" for communities that qualify for an exception.
FACT – The Compact says a community within a county that straddles the Great Lakes Basin, like Waukesha, can be approved for Great Lakes water if it has no reasonable water supply alternative.
Years of analysis by the City of Waukesha, regional planners, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources led to the consideration of 14 water sources, with extensive examination of six water supply alternatives. In the unanimous opinion of the ten Great Lakes states and provinces that reviewed Waukesha’s application, “none of the evaluated alternatives were found to be reliable sources for a long-term, dependable, and sustainable public water supply.”
MYTH: It’s unusual for a municipality to discharge to a river.
FACT – About 473 — or 94% — of the approximately 500 municipal wastewater treatment plants in Wisconsin flow into rivers.
Of those that do not, 22 flow directly to the Great Lakes and 8 flow directly to inland lakes. Federal and state regulations protect water quality and communities that are downstream from municipal discharges. (In fact, Waukesha itself is currently the beneficiary of such protections, as two municipalities discharge into the Fox River upstream of the city.) Only a handful of communities in Wisconsin have treatment processes as advanced as those at Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant, thus ensuring that return flow into the Root River will meet or exceed all permit limits.
MYTH: The deep aquifer is recharging, and has risen enough to be a sustainable water supply for Waukesha.
FACT – While groundwater levels have recently shown a short-term rise, area communities withdraw water at a faster rate than the aquifer recharges.
The historic long-term trend shows consistent depletion of the deep aquifer over time, despite temporary rises in the groundwater levels due in part to reduced demand and the decision by some communities to switch their supply to surface water or the shallow aquifer. The water level has dropped more than 350 feet over time, and the drawdown reduces flow to area lakes, streams and wetlands. A significant reversal of this long-term trend is not expected until Waukesha begins accessing its new Lake Michigan water supply.
We’d like to hear from you.
The Great Water Alliance welcomes your thoughts and opinions as we work to improve and protect water resources in the City of Waukesha, the Root River, and the Lake Michigan Basin. Feel free to leave us a message below, or call our dedicated hotline at (262) 409-4444.