The BeginningRapid Regional Growth• Concerns about groundwater capacity• Water quality issues

Search for alternative solutions

Wisconsin State Statute 66.0823

• Provides for the formation of Joint Local Water Authorities

• Regional water supplier• Supplies water to municipal distribution

systems– Not allowed to provide direct retail service

Authority Formed 9/9/1998• Village of Allouez• Village of Ashwaubenon• Town of Bellevue• City of De Pere• Town of Hobart• Village of Howard

• Town of Lawrence• Town of Ledgeview• Oneida Tribe• Town of Scott• Town of Suamico

The Next Five Years• Define a solution• Authority ability to issue bonds ($138 million) for

water project• Required long-term commitment to purchase water

– All water required to be purchased from Authority– Take or pay– Perpetual term– In or out

Factors Considered by Members• Solution for Water Source Problems

– Groundwater supply– Radium

• Cost under Agreement– Allocation Method; Stable vs. growing communities

• Alternative Supply Sources– Groundwater capacity; Pre-Authority & Post-Authority – Other surface water sources

• Political Interests

Authority as of 11/24/2003

• Village of Allouez• Village of Bellevue• City of De Pere• Village of Howard• Town of Lawrence• Town of Ledgeview

Source of Supply• Lake Michigan supply • Manitowoc Public Utilities provides intake and water

treatment under contract– Authority paid MPU to construct additional intake and treatment

facilities

• Authority owned pipeline transports treated water to member communities– MPU operates and maintains Authority pipeline under contract

Issues

• System Limitations• Individual operating decisions impact everyone

– Managing peaks in usage

• Predictable cost allocations– True-ups required if water sales insufficient

• Competing Interests– Stable vs. growing communities

• Politics

Positives• Authority governance• Pooling of Resources• Economies of Scale• Political interest and support• Communication • Collaboration

– Storage– AMI– Member to Member

Moving Forward

• Who do we want to be when we grow up?