Construction Of Pipeline to Waukesha Could Start In 2015

This post was written and reported by Waukesha Patch Local Editor Sarah Millard, with additional reporting by Oak Creek Patch Local Editor Mark Schaaf.

Construction on a water pipeline from Oak Creek to Waukesha could begin in March 2015 as Waukesha tries to meet a June 2018 deadline to reduce the radium levels in its water supply.

The Waukesha Water Utility released a revised schedule after it finalized its water service area. The city’s final version of its application to divert Great Lakes water will be delivered to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in July.

Because Waukesha is just outside the Great Lakes Basin, it needs the approval of all Great Lakes states to purchase water from Oak Creek.

The final environmental impact statement is expected to be released in January after a 45-day period of public comment starting in November. The DNR would then forward the application to other states.

Waukesha and Oak Creek approved a deal last year and resolved an issue caused by a Public Service Commission ruling to keep the plan moving forward.

The Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility has said that if the water sale gets all of the necessary approvals, residents could see a drop in their water bills by as much as 25 percent.