Drinking Water and Wastewater both received grades of C- (between mediocre: requires attention and poor: at risk).
Municipal water utilities have water quality issues, including lead, bacteria, nitrates, arsenic and radium. Both water and wastewater utilities have aging water treatment and distribution infrastructure. Wastewater utilities face challenges of growth, more intense storm events and new wastewater discharge regulations for compounds such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas).
On August 5, 2021, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin will hold a category meeting on the infrastructure of drinking water and wastewater in Wisconsin. The League will be joined by Carl Sutter, P.E., director of the American Society of Civil Engineers - WI Section, who will present on drinking water, and Jennifer Hurlebaus, P.E., the lead author of the wastewater category in the ASCE-WI Section 2020 Infrastructure Report Card. Justin Bilskemper, P.E., is the lead author of the drinking water category.
The following panelists will also give brief remarks and engaged in a Q&A discussion with attendees:
- Karen Dettmer, Superintendent, Milwaukee Waterworks
- Steven B. Elmore, Bureau Director, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Chanz Green, City of Ashland Utility Manager for Water and Wastewater
- Shyquetta McElroy, Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE), Parent’s LEAD,
- Denise Schmidt, Administrator, Division of Water Utility Regulation and Analyses, Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin
You can register for this event here. After the program, a recording will be made available on this page.
Learn more about the League's series on infrastructure here.
