WAUKESHA, Wis. (September 5, 2017) — On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, the Waukesha Water Utility will present detailed information to the public regarding the long-term, sustainable water supply solution for City of Waukesha, called the Great Water Alliance (GWA). During this open house, residents can review and discuss what it means for them, benefits of the project, and proposed pipeline routes.
“We encourage everyone to come at their convenience to learn more about this program to provide Waukesha’s 71,000 residents with a reliable and sustainable supply of safe drinking water,” said Mayor Shawn Reilly. “
The open house is scheduled for:
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Waukesha Rotary Building
1150 Baxter Street
The GWA program will carry fresh water from Lake Michigan, treat it, and return the same amount to the Great Lakes Basin. The open house will provide updates on this historic project, along with detailed maps of proposed pipeline routes and information on water quality.
“We want to hear from our community,” said Dan Duchniak, general manager of the Waukesha Water Utility. “We encourage people to discuss this historic project with experts, ask questions, and provide comments as we move forward with project planning.”
The City of Waukesha needs a long-term, sustainable alternative to its existing water supply. The aquifer which has been the City’s primary source of drinking water has become depleted. This is due in large part to a layer of shale rock that restricts rainwater and snowmelt from recharging the aquifer, and has resulted in elevated levels of radium and other naturally-occurring contaminants.
The eight Great Lakes governors and two Canadian premiers who reviewed the Waukesha project concluded that Waukesha has no reasonable alternative to a Great Lakes water supply. Waukesha may access up to 8.2 million gallons a day of drinking water from Lake Michigan and return the same amount to the Basin. The project will construct a pipeline from the water source to Waukesha. After being used in Waukesha, a second pipeline will return treated water from Waukesha’s Clean Water Plant to an outfall point in Franklin that empties into the Root River, ultimately flowing back to Lake Michigan. Construction is expected to begin in early 2020 with completion in 2023.
ABOUT THE GREAT WATER ALLIANCE
The Great Water Alliance will provide the City of Waukesha’s citizens with a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible source of drinking water. The Great Water Alliance also is a model for regional cooperation among neighboring communities. For more information, log on to https://greatwateralliance.com. Sign up to stay informed of program updates.
Media contact:
Dan Duchniak, P.E.
Waukesha Water Utility
(262) 409-4440 office / (262) 352-5142 cell
dduchniak@waukesha-water.com