Waukesha Lake Michigan water switch delayed, new date announced
WAUKESHA, Wis. - Waukesha will begin its switch from groundwater to Lake Michigan water on Oct. 9, officials announced Thursday.
After a project decades in the making, tens of thousands of people will have to wait a little longer for new drinking water.
"We wanted to give customers a date for certain – that we could say this is the date," said Dan Duchniak, general manager of the Waukesha Water Utility.
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The transition had been planned to start between Sept. 14 and 18, officials said, but a specific date had not yet been set.
Duchniak said some pumps in Milwaukee malfunctioned during a programming test this week. That, couple with hundreds of questions from customers, are delaying the rollout.
"We were getting 100 to 500 calls a day here at the Utility," he said.
Between now and the rollout, Duchniak said city officials are doing "as much communication as possible" with residents through the city's websites and e-newsletter.
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It will take up to five days for 90% of the city to transition, Duchniak added. A map shows when the water will hit each street. Homeowners living close to the city’s new pumping station on Les Paul Parkway will be the first to get the new water in their pipes.
Residents can also expect the water to look red at first. Duchniak said that’s because of iron and minerals built up in the system. He suggests removing filters from sinks and refrigerators for a few days.
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"You’ll want to remove those aerators, rinse them out once the water comes through. It might plug up those screens," he said.
Red water would be safe to drink, Duchniak said, but don't do laundry; it could stain clothes. Running cold water for 3-5 minutes should return clear water to your home.
Customers can find answers to frequently asked questions about the transition on the Great Water Alliance website, in bill inserts and through other communications. The city also posts a weekly electronic newsletter that residents can sign up for through the Connect link. Customers can also call the water utility staff at 262- 521-5272 for answers.
An interactive map of the water transition is available through the Waukesha Water Utility website.