Lake Michigan water begins flowing through Waukesha

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Monday, Oct. 9 was a historic day for Waukesha as it became the first city outside the Great Lakes Basin to get water from Lake Michigan.

The city successfully applied to get water from the lake under the Great Lakes Compact. Under the compact, there's a ban on new diversions to places outside the basin, but communities can apply if they're in a county that straddles the basin.

Waukesha Water Utilities General Manager Dan Duchniak has spent two decades trying to change the water in the city.

"Our initial water supply study was completed in December of 2002," he said. "I've been working on this project for 21 years. It's a really good day for the city of Waukesha and a good day for me, personally."

The process is expected to be slow, and water is expected to be red temporarily.

"We're moving about 50 million gallons of water through our system in a matter of five days," Duchniak said.

"If you see [red water], you want to run your cold water, not your hot water. You want to make sure you're running cold water. Run it in your utility sinks and your bathrooms and flush your toilets. Run your cold water. It should take 10-15 minutes; it should clear up."

Duchniak said the change is the best option as it removes the radium issue while addressing water sustainability. One Waukesha homeowner agrees with the change, even though the rate increase will sting.

"I think it was ultimately needed because we're drawing water from the ground that's quickly running out. Eventually, we're going to run out of water here, so we need to find a different option," Waukesha resident John Gottwald said.

This month, residents will see a $15 increase on their water bill and the same increase next October, but because Lake Michigan water is not as hard as groundwater, customers could potentially save money by removing their water softener.

"I'm going to shut it off and see what the water feels like if it's that much different," Gottwald said about his water softener.

If you live on a cul-de-sac or dead-end street, Duchniak said the process will take longer as those pipes need to be flushed individually.

Because of changes to the way the water is disinfected, residents with aquatic pets should consult with a pet store about the changes they should make.

You can track the change in water in real-time here.