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Waukesha utility declares emergency, approves contractor to relocate services on Perkins Avenue
Summary
After repeated breaks on an aging 6-inch main, the Waukesha Water Utility Commission declared an emergency under Wisconsin Stat. §62.15(1)(b) and authorized staff to negotiate a contract to relocate services to a 12-inch main and begin road repairs, with contractor and reconstruction costs capped.
The Waukesha Water Utility Commission on Aug. 21 declared an emergency under section 62.15(1)(b) of the Wisconsin statutes after repeated breaks on a 6-inch water main on Perkins Avenue, and directed staff to negotiate with D F Tomassini (DF Tomassini) to relocate affected services to an adjacent 12-inch main.
The action was prompted by multiple failures that began Aug. 14 near 855 Perkins Avenue, when crews responded overnight to a break that recurred several times through the weekend. Matt (staff member) told commissioners the line failed repeatedly: “from Thursday until Saturday, it broke 6 times.” The motion directs the general manager to negotiate a contract with DF Tomassini for service relocation at a cost not to exceed $23,000 and authorizes up to $545,000 for related road reconstruction, permits, material spoil handling and inventory costs.
Commissioners were told the existing 6-inch cast-iron main dates from the late 1920s and that services along the east side of Perkins are tied to that line. A 12-inch ductile-iron main installed in 1970 runs on the west side of the street; staff said the plan is to tie the services to the 12-inch main, abandon the 6-inch, and minimize future interruptions by moving service connections out of the poorest pavement sections.
Why this matters: Commissioners heard that the road surface and underlying concrete base are in poor condition, which enlarges the scope of any street openings and raises reconstruction costs. City engineering initially estimated a full road replacement could cost about $500,000; staff said they are negotiating with City Engineering to find a less costly, longer-lasting solution and coordinate with planned city sewer work so the intersection work is not re-dug later.
Staff described immediate work already completed: DF Tomassini mobilized quickly and tied services from Arcadian to Anoka to the 12-inch main so the 6-inch was taken out of service. Staff estimated materials for the intersection reroute not to exceed $20,000. Commissioners asked for a map of mains by age and for continued coordination with the city so water projects can align with street resurfacing plans.
The motion was made and seconded and carried by voice vote. Commissioners directed staff to continue negotiating scope and costs with DF Tomassini and with City Engineering to reduce overall expenses and avoid future rework in the intersection at Anoka and Arcadian.
Staff noted next steps include completing the abandonment ties, coordinating valve closures, repairing affected neighborhoods’ streets, and returning to the commission with any material changes to the cost estimates.
