Waukesha Official: Water Rates Will 'Double or Triple'

WAUKESHA - With Waukesha's historic Lake Michigan water diversion approval in the books, the city can move ahead to make Lake Michigan water a reality.

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.