Engineering report: PSC incompleteness letter, DNR approval, recent water-main repairs and pressure fluctuation investigation

City engineering staff told the Board of Public Works and Capital Assets on Aug. 12 that the Public Service Commission issued a standard incompleteness letter for a construction-authorization application and that the Department of Natural Resources has approved the related project. Staff said the PSC items were minor, that the letter is routine, and that the project is moving forward while staff prepares a response. Staff also reported several water-main issues last month. The notable repairs included replacement of approximately 5 feet of ductile iron main on Marquette and a July 17 break on a service road off Ross Avenue that discharged for an extended time. Staff said the Ross Avenue break produced excess flow that entered an AT&T duct and surfaced in neighboring South Milwaukee, leading that utility to call the city later in the day. Board members asked about a pressure fluctuation near Thirteenth and Ross avenues; staff said they identified a mostly closed valve likely left during Ross Avenue tie-in work and that crews exercised valves from Howell Tower to Thirteenth and Ross to locate and address the problem. Staff noted a remaining fluctuation: weekday daytime pressures jump between roughly 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., while evenings and weekends are more stable. Engineering staff said pressure loggers are deployed and the investigation is ongoing. Why it matters: PSC and DNR actions affect regulatory permissions needed for construction; recent main breaks and pressure instability can affect service reliability and require targeted repairs. Ending: Staff characterized the PSC letter as routine, confirmed DNR approval, and said they will continue the pressure investigation and repairs as data permit.