The Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility announced today it saved ratepayers the equivalent of $10 million in capital improvement costs.

“We achieved the best of all worlds,” says Mike Sullivan, Utility Engineer. “We achieved additional water treatment capacity while exceeding water quality standards without adding cost to ratepayers.”

Through technology investments made during the last treatment plant expansion, which expanded daily water processing capacity to 28 million gallons, the Utility now can effectively treat 35 million gallons per day without additional infrastructure build out.

“The Utility’s pioneering spirit always has focused on investment in new technology to ensure the cleanest, safest, most reliable water possible flows to its customers,” Sullivan says. “During the planning process for the treatment plant expansion completed in 2010, we ensured technology investments were made to allow us flexibility in adjusting to evolving regulatory standards.”

The foresight and investment is paying off. When the DNR announced it would limit the amount of water drawn from Lake Michigan by communities, it meant limits would be set on the current capacity of a given water treatment plant.  

With that announcement, the Utility saw the need to ensure ratepayers had access to as much water as possible before the DNR restrictions went into place. The Utility presented to the DNR a solution that would ensure ample water supply through 2040 without additional expense to ratepayers.

The Utility demonstrated technology improvements made during the treatment plant expansion in 2010 could effectively process 35 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water. This is 25 percent more processing volume than the stated daily treatment plant capacity of 28 million gallons of water per day.

The DNR required the Utility prove it could maintain required water quality levels over the course of the last year. The Utility not only met the regulations–but exceeded the DNR water quality requirements–producing water quality 10 times better than what DNR regulations require.

“By increasing the amount of water treatment capacity, we are able to meet the needs of customers through 2040 while significantly exceeding water quality regulations,” Sullivan concluded.

Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility is known as one of the most progressive utilities in the Nation.  Always seeking new ways to improve, the Utility has committed to continued excellence through a program of quality improvement.  Utility employees produce the highest quality drinking water possible, and are proud to announce its water meets and exceeds all federal and state drinking water health standards.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Sullivan, General Manager, Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility at (414) 570-8210 or via email.