Waukesha to consider initial application for lake water

The Waukesha Water Utility will present a draft application for a new Lake Michigan water supply to the Common Council and the public at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, city officials said Tuesday.

The meeting will be held at City Hall, 201 Delafield St., in the Common Council Chambers.

The utility is pursuing Lake Michigan as a new source of drinking water for the city as water drawn from its deep aquifers contain radium concentrations that exceed federal safety standards, which have been unsuccessfully disputed by the city.

The utility wants to purchase water from Milwaukee Water Works, but also will consider getting  lake water from Racine or Oak Creek if a deal cannot be struck with Milwaukee.

The council must grant final approval to a proposal that now calls for building a large pipeline that connects Waukesha to Milwaukee water pipes and to build another pipeline that returns an equal amount of treated water back to the lake through the Underwood Creek tributary in Wauwatosa.

Here’s a source for  more information about the Waukesha Water Utility’s plans.