Waukesha's Largest Well Breaks Down, Repairs Could Take 6 Months

WAUKESHA, WI -- Citing a "catastrophic failure" of the motor of Waukesha's largest well pump, city officials have approved spending $325,00 to fix or replace it in 2019.

According to Waukesha Water Utility documents, Waukesha's Wolf Road Well pump suffered multiple electrical issues between late Nov. and early Dec., prompting workers to shut the well down. When they investigated further, they learned they have to replace the 700 horsepower pump with their replacement model until the original pump can either be fixed or replaced.

According to a Journal Sentinel report, the Wolf Road well supplies Waukesha with 63 percent of the city's water. Officials say they've got a plan in place to utilize other wells to make up the shortfall.

According to officials, the same pump failed most recently in 2016. Based on the most recent failure, officials say this year's failure could take up to six months to fully overcome. The Waukesha Water Utility is no stranger to Wolf Road repairs. According to the Journal Sentinel, this will be the fifth time they've fixed it over the last 11 years - at a total cost of $2.5 million.

Waukesha officials say they can make up the Wolf Road's 3.8 million gallons per day using wells that are compliant with local radium limits, however if the demand goes over a certain threshold, they'll be forced to use wells that have higher radium levels.

"Given the recent water demands in winter and spring, it may be possible to remain compliant with our other wells, however, should we begin to experience higher demands, we will start by demanding Well 7, which has been testing below the combined radium limit for the last few quarters. Once demands reach 6.1 million gallons per day we will need to demand a non-compliant well," officials said.

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