Waukesha's preferred alternative carries a price tag of $164 million and more than $6 million in annual operating costs.
No wonder some Waukesha mayoral candidates are chasing after some quarry water as a cheaper alternative.
Wonder what the cost would have been for some of the other available alternatives - - shallow wells, radium-removal and water blending - - had not Waukesha wasted a good part of 20 years fighting federal clean water standards?
The $164 million to buy Lake Michagin water through Milwaukee is Waukesha's cheapest and most reliable option for Waukesha's water growth... irregardless of Waukesha's past water standard problems, getting clean water from the ground has always been the most expensive option, even now... on top of that the supply has not been proven to be as dependable and affordable as Lake Michigan water.
ReplyDeleteThe ground water system cannot sustain Waukesha's growth forever, irregardless of how much money they throw at filters and federal standards. Even if Waukesha was the "Poster Child" of clean water, the current system has been proven to be either cost effective or sustanable for Waukesha's growth.
Now one may argue the ethical side of Waukesha failing to comply with federal standards for years... but you are not making that agreement here...
SEWRPC has said Waukesha does not need the Lake Michigan option to provide a permanent water supply.
ReplyDeleteSEWRPC's opinion also relies heavily on water conservation... Waukesha can't just jump more in from the lake like Milwaukee can....
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