Could Wauwatosa Dip Into Federal Water Project Funding Stream?

September 21, 2011 by The Political E...

The City of Wauwatosa is facing up to $84 million in sewer infrastructure work, and a lot of it means installing expensive new pipes:

For $34 million to $39 million, the city could install bigger pipes and a storage tank...

That's a big chuck of change, but the good news is that the city's Congressman, Fifth District Republican Jim Sensenbrenner, is already helping to prepare a federal grant plan to provide southeastern Wisconsin municipalities up to $100 million for water projects that include new pipes.

Note that the City of Waukesha, which hopes to get a big piece - - perhaps $50 million - - of the money to defray some of its possible Lake Michigan diversion expense, has said that other communities are eligible, too.

Said Daniel Duchniak, Waukesha's water utility general manager:

“I think we’re looking for all opportunities for funding,” he said, “and that might not mean only for city of Waukesha. It could be for the region...If the money is awarded to the region, local governments in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties would decide how to split the grant, he said.”

Federal funds would be in high demand, given losses in state dollars.