Cities of Milwaukee, Waukesha battle over water proposal
MILWAUKEE - The City of Milwaukee was to take Wednesday to discuss a new plan to sell water to the City of Waukesha.
Mayor Tom Barrett was to discuss the subject at a hearing about the issue on Wednesday.
The two cities have been in discussion for a long time about the possibility.
Milwaukee wants to authorize talks for a water pipeline to go to the City of Waukesha, but not beyond its existing borders.
Waukesha's water utility says htat if Milwaukee wants to limit water solely to the City of Waukesha, it is the equivalent of refusing to negotiate a deal.
Waukesha has been looking for clean water for its supply, as there appears to be radium contamination levels in water when crews have drilled in the city.
Some Milwaukee officials are against the plan, but selling water to Waukesha counld generate more than $3 million a year for the City of Milwaukee.
If talks fail between the two cities, Waukesha could also discuss a plan with Oak Creek and Racine.
Those cities have not limited Waukesha on their request for water.
Waukesha's water utility manager tells the Journal Sentinel that he has one more year to discuss water pipeline plans.
It takes about five years to build a new system.
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