Pewaukee committee hears water‑supply study outlining PFAS, radium risks and options

Unidentified Speaker 6, staff, presented the water‑supply service area plan draft sections 4, 7 and 8 and summarized five supply options for the city. He said the study highlights pumping and contamination problems and is intended to give council a clear set of tradeoffs. “This gives a little more of the background on our pumping and our contamination issues,” Speaker 6 said, noting the public information meeting was well attended.

The report identifies constraints including PFAS and radium in groundwater and older wells that are deteriorating; those issues factored into the shortlist of viable options. Staff described two likely near‑term paths: remain on a groundwater system and add up to about 10 additional well sites over time, or pursue a surface‑water option such as accessing Lake Michigan via regional partners. “Right now, what it looks like is, either staying on the groundwater system … or looking at Lake Michigan,” Speaker 6 said.

Committee members and staff discussed partnering with neighboring jurisdictions (Speaker 6 mentioned prior, informal discussions with the village of Pewaukee and others) and cautioned that agreements and legal approvals — including Great Lakes Compact considerations — will be part of any Lake Michigan option. Staff said the study is high level and will not yet include full construction or lifecycle cost details; the goal is to return to council in December with a guiding document that includes estimated price tags for the two most viable options.

On next steps, Speaker 6 said the study team will quantify costs for the leading options and that the council will later see more detailed financial figures and project recommendations. No formal action was taken; staff and council members asked clarifying questions and agreed the item will return for council consideration.