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Waukesha utility staff report fewer main failures recently, new projects and staffing updates ahead of construction season
Summary
Staff reported a decline in repeated main failures, ongoing work with contractors and consultants on supply and booster-pump issues, a new app for main-break recording, radio-replacement building bids and planned capital projects including Silvernail realignment and Fox River Parkway work.
Waukesha Water Utility staff told the April 17 commission meeting that the number of distribution-system failures has declined since earlier in the year, while staff described ongoing work on several capital projects, procurement and operational improvements ahead of the 2025 construction season.
Staff described collaborative bidding with the City of Waukesha on several water-main replacement projects, work with engineering consultants and UIC/Black & Veatch to resolve locating and booster-pump station issues, and plans to deploy a new field app for recording main breaks and other field activities. The utility also reported continued coordination on the Silvernail Road realignment, which the county is advancing and which requires relocation of a water main partially paid by the utility (staff estimated the utility’s portion around $40,000). A radio-replacement building project went to bid with nine general contractors attending the pre-bid meeting; bids are due May 6.
Staff gave the commission a brief financial recap: March billing contained roughly five fewer billing days than the prior year, overall consumption is about 1.3% under budget year to date, and the utility ended March with about $46.7 million in cash after debt issuance and routine payments, including a large pilot payment to the city and April 1 debt interest payments. Staff also noted WIFIA invoicing receipts and that one industrial customer used about 1.3 million fewer gallons in March than last year.
On regulatory and legal items, staff said the Public Service Commission conservation report was submitted by the April 1 deadline, they’re preparing the PSC regular report and the consumer confidence report, and an existing customer-disconnection appeal (Fabick) was ruled by the PSC so the matter moves back to circuit court; staff said briefs related to a stormwater-pond case received a judge-approved extension to May 9.
Operational notes included completion of a small unidirectional flushing area in the southwest portion of the city to address red-water concerns ahead of work there, ongoing staff PPE recertification and training, and a plan to continue using technology and AI tools to manage system data from valve turning and hydrant operations. Staff said the radio-replacement project and other capital work have not yet generated many contractor invoices because the season is early.
Commissioners and staff did not report any immediate water-supply emergency.
