After years of negotiations, Waukesha and Milwaukee have come to an agreement on providing water for the inland city. Starting in 2019 construction will begin on a new water main from Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan source to Waukesha.
Booster Pumps will be located at 60th Street and Howard Avenue in Milwaukee. Water will pump from there to 84th Street and Cold Spring Road where Waukesha will hook in.
Once they use an estimated 6.5 million gallons a day, it will be treated and sent back to Lake Michigan via the Root River.
The project is expected to cost $285 million dollars over 40 years. It will be paid for with loans, grants, and revenue from the system. Waukesha homeowners can expect to save about $200 a year over any other options the city had according to officials.
Milwaukee will receive approximately $4 million dollars a year to replace its aging infrastructure, including lead water pipes.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett called this the best deal for everyone involved.
"This is truly a win-win situation," Barrett said. "From an economic standpoint, from an environmental standpoint and from an intergovernmental relations standpoint.”
Both cities common council’s have to approve the agreement to make it final.
