The Political Environment: Water Plan Put Forward By Waukesha Mayoral Challenger Deemed Too Costly

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Water Plan Put Forward By Waukesha Mayoral Challenger Deemed Too Costly

Waukesha's mayoral challenger has his Lake Michigan supply alternative blown out of the water.

5 comments:

James Wigderson said...: Ya know, if politicians would just ask me these things ahead of time...

Of course, none of these shallow well plans take into account the litigation costs from the surrounding communities when their wells dry up from us sticking more straws in the ground.; March 4, 2010 at 3:50 PM
James Rowen said...: To James: I'll tell you when the costs will go up - - when the utility, council and city proceed with the Lake Michigan diversion application claiming it is the only available alternative.

Even though SEWRPC has found that there are several alternatives that provide Waukesha with adequate water

That contradiction, along with the new Waukesha water utility water service territory that grows by 80% in the diversion application will absolutely provoke one or more of the other Great Lakes governors to nix the application.

So it goes...; March 4, 2010 at 6:55 PM
Anonymous said...: And that will bring about the uber-expensive legal battles as everyone sues everyone else over the Compact.; March 4, 2010 at 10:17 PM
James Wigderson said...: Well, then, Jim, you have nothing to worry about, right? After all, you don't want to sell us water, and according to you an application for water is sure to be rejected. Never mind that everyone knew Waukesha was going to come begging for water, or that New Berlin already got water, when the compact passed. Or that there was even an exception made to allow Waukesha to go ahead with the water diversion application even if the other states had not yet approved the compact. Or that other states, including Michigan, might not want to say no because of the precedent it would set for regional cooperation when it comes to the Great Lakes.

Glad to know we're just wasting time and money in Waukesha, and that you can stop writing about the issue.

By the way, can you tell me where to hook up my garden hose at your house so I can water my lawn?

I expect I will see you Monday.; March 4, 2010 at 11:36 PM
James Rowen said...: To Jim: SEWRPC has found, and has repeated often, that Waukesha has several supply options. It is the City of Waukesha that has decided to pursue Lake Michigan water as its only option, though several exist.

So there is no quantity issue, and the quality issues can be addressed with more than one alternative, with current quality standards already being met 95-98% of the time, as SEWRPC's water expert said only yesterday.

The issue is: how much does Waukesha want to spend to meet the standard 100% of the time.; March 5, 2010 at 2:28 PM