Water woes: Cost to repair failed water pipe approaching $2 million

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The water woes for 16 southeast Wisconsin communities drag on. Efforts to repair a failing water pipe at the Texas Ave. pumping station will now cost almost $2 million to fix.

"This is a pipe that really has an impact on the entire water supply system. And, when I say, `The entire water supply system,` not only the city of Milwaukee, but all those other communities that purchase water from the city of Milwaukee, as well," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

In mid-May, a leaking water main forced the shutdown of both the Texas Ave. pumping station and the Howard Ave. treatment plant. This forced so much water and water pressure through the Linwood Plant, that some older pipes couldn't handle it -- and the city subsequently suffered dozens of water main breaks.

Meanwhile, back under Texas Ave.,  the repairs reveal potential problems.

"We start seeing defects that were close to what we saw in the actual holes, so there were signs of what was to come," said Ghassan Korban, Milwaukee DPW Commissioner.

This current effort to prevent further system struggles involves continued use of the north-side station -- while a contractor attempts to complete the work on the troubled pumping station by a July 3rd deadline.

City leaders say the repair effort will be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until it is finished.

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