WAUKESHA - If Waukesha decides to ask permission to tap into Lake
Michigan as a long term water supply, it won’t cost the city
anything.
The price tag for submitting an application through the
likely-to-be-approved Great Lakes Compact for a water diversion
would be borne by the Waukesha Water Utility, said Dan Duchniak, the
utility’s general manager.
"As part of our budget, we put in $130,000 in anticipation
of a water application," Duchniak said. "That figure takes
into account documenting the need for the water, developing the
application and studying how to return the water."
That is good news to city officials, as they look at a projected
budget shortfall in 2009 of $2.4 million.
Waukesha has been keeping an eye on the process of the proposed
Great Lakes Compact on the state level. The compact, which protects
the Great Lakes from long-distance diversions, sets standards for
nearby communities like Waukesha to withdraw water.
It passed the state Assembly and Senate last week and now goes to
Gov. Jim Doyle, who is expected to sign it.
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full story, go to the electronic version of The Freeman. Click
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Linda McAlpine can be reached at lmcalpine@conleynet.com
