The Great Water Alliance Project Case Study

Blog

26 September 2024

The city of Waukesha, Wisconsin, launched a significant project to address its growing water scarcity and contamination issues. With depleting local groundwater wells and increasing levels of radium posing health risks, they needed a sustainable solution to ensure a safe drinking water supply. The project involved constructing an extensive pipeline system to transport fresh water from Lake Michigan, providing a long-term solution to the city’s water challenges.

This case study discusses Waukesha’s water supply challenge, the innovative solution using HDPE pipes, and the detailed process of pipeline engineering.

The Water Crisis in Waukesha

Waukesha faced a critical issue with its water supply. The city’s water came from ten groundwater wells in a sandstone aquifer nearing depletion after over a century of use. Since the 1990s, seven of these wells had shown increasing levels of radium, a naturally occurring carcinogen. This situation necessitated a sustainable solution for providing residents with clean and safe drinking water.

Advanced Solutions Using WL Plastics’ PE4710 DR11 HDPE Pipes

Here are the solutions provided by WL Plastics for the city’s water supply project:

Manufacturing of HDPE Pipes

We produced 36-inch DIPS PE4710 DR11 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes for the project. These pipes were chosen for their strength, durability, and ability to withstand the installation conditions required by the project.

Supply for HDD Installations

The 36-inch HDPE pipes were used in the pipeline sections requiring Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) installation. Such segments included about 3 miles of the total pipeline length, spanning 13 locations where HDD was necessary.

Provision of High-Quality Materials

The HDPE pipes were designed to meet the project specifications and withstand environmental and operational conditions. This guarantees a long-lasting, leak-free water supply line.

Collaboration With Core & Main

WL Plastics worked closely with Core & Main, who supplied all the pipes for the project. The collaboration ensured a seamless integration of materials and helped meet the project’s timelines and technical requirements.

Step-by-Step Execution of the Plan

Listed below are the essential steps involved in executing the water supply of the Great Water Alliance project:

1. Approval and Planning

The project began with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approving Waukesha’s request for a water diversion from Lake Michigan in 2015. This was followed by approval from the eight Great Lakes states in 2016 under the Great Lakes Compact. An agreement was made for Milwaukee to supply the city with 6 to 8 million gallons of water daily starting in 2023.

2. Pipeline Construction

The Great Water Alliance project involved constructing a 13-mile water supply pipeline and a 23-mile return flow line. The pipelines were primarily 30-inch ductile iron pipes, with about 3 miles using 36-inch HDPE pipes for HDD installation at 13 locations.

3. Implementation of HDD

For the most challenging segments, the project utilized HDD to install the 36-inch HDPE pipes provided by WL Plastics. The longest of these installations extended approximately 1,800 feet.

4. Completion and Transition

Construction began and was scheduled for completion by late 2022, with the water service expected to commence in 2023. Once the lake water supply is operational, Waukesha will stop using its groundwater wells, resolving the radium contamination issue and ensuring a sustainable water supply.

Partner With WL Plastics for Cutting-Edge Water Pipeline Solutions!

WL Plastics delivers exceptional HDPE pipes engineered for the most demanding projects. Our high-performance pipes are renowned for their unparalleled durability and reliability, making us the top choice for critical infrastructure needs. With superior, sustainable solutions that thrive in extreme conditions, municipalities and organizations across the country rely on our expertise and commitment to excellence.