Firm Hired to Keep Waukesha Water Pipeline Costs Under Control

WAUKESHA - With Waukesha's historic Lake Michigan water diversion approval in the books, the Waukesha Water Utility has retained a firm to help keep costs under control on its $207 million Lake Michigan diversion project.

According to a report by the Biz Times, the construction contract compliance division of Chicago-based Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP will monitor costs related to acquiring and returning Lake Michigan water. In announcing the decision, the utility noted the firm has experience with large pipeline projects.

“We are preparing to embark on one of the largest municipal water supply projects in the history of the state of Wisconsin,” said Dan Duchniak, Waukesha Water Utility general manager to the Biz Times. “Baker Tilly will work to help us so that ratepayers’ dollars are buying only what we need.”

Costs Going Up

The new water won't flow until 2020 or 2021, but when it does, according to Dan Duchniak, general manager of the Waukesha Water Utility, bills are going to more than double.

"The rates are going to double or triple depending on how the funding works out," Duchniak told WTMJ 4.
Right now, the average homeowner pays $320 a year for water. At minimum, that will be that cost will increase to more than $600 or even close to $1,000 per year.

According to a WTMJ report, the city will now buy Lake Michigan water from Oak Creek, which will pipeline the water west. Waukesha will then use the water, treat it and send it back through Racine.

The infrastructure to do all that will cost more than $200 million.

While Waukesha is expected to obtain grants and low-interest loans, area residents will end up footing a large portion of the bill.