One alternative considered was to purchase water from a neighboring community. During conversations with WDNR, it was determined the nearest municipal water system with enough excess capacity to supply the City of Abbotsford is the City of Wausau, 32 miles to the east. The City of Abbotsford has contacted the City of Wausau regarding the potential sale of water. The City of Wausau has informally expressed an interest and ability to supply the City of Abbotsford. The water rate would be at the City of Wausau's PSC authorized bulk water rate.
The City of Abbotsford has expended considerable effort to examine purchasing water from another municipal system. A number of communities between Abbotsford and Wausau were approached to determine their interest in wholesale purchase of water from Wausau. These communities included Marshfield, Marathon City, Athens, Edgar and Colby. This effort, called the Central Wisconsin Water Authority, was a joint effort by Abbotsford and Wausau to ask other communities to participate in a regional water pipeline.
Unfortunately, the response to the Central Wisconsin Water Authority concept does not fit Abbotsford's immediate need for additional water supply. First, there is no immediate need for water supply in the communities along a potential corridor route. Most of the communities contacted for the pipeline concept do not have an immediate need for additional water supply. Typically, communities indicated that there may be need for additional wholesale water in three to ten years. All communities indicated that even in the case of a regional pipeline, they would keep their existing water supply infrastructure intact and use only minimal water from the pipeline.
Second, the timing of a regional pipeline would not be effective in meeting Abbotsford's immediate water supply needs. Approval for and construction of a regional pipeline to supply Abbotsford with water from Wausau would require a minimum of three years. Agreements would need to be negotiated with other communities participating in the regional pipeline. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission approval process for major water system improvement corridor projects would require preparation of an environmental impact statement. In addition, an extended period of time, several years, is likely needed for right-of-way and easement acquisition. It is not feasible to locate within state highway right-of-way, which is the most continuous corridor from Abbotsford to Wausau. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has stated that it would take an act of Congress to allow the water pipeline to be constructed within the Highway 29 right-of-way. Even if WisDOT could allow the pipeline in the right-of-way, there would be significant risk, since WisDOT can, at a future date, require that the pipeline be moved to accommodate highway expansion.
The alternate route, locating a pipeline primarily in the County Highway N corridor, will be difficult due to the presence of other utilities (buried telecommunications on one side and overhead power lines on the other side) within the narrow County Highway N corridor. This County Highway N route would require acquisition of numerous individual parcels of right-of-way and construction easements.
Finally, the regional pipeline concept is not cost efficient for Abbotsford to spearhead without substantial support. The pipeline concept would require $7 to $10 million of additional funding (above the costs of surface water) from USDA Rural Development or another source. Rural Development has stated that they most likely cannot provide this funding. Additional right-of-way and easement acquisition costs for the 34-mile corridor, over and above capital costs of the project, make a regional pipeline cost prohibitive.
A pipeline system with pumping stations and water storage would cost in excess of $27 million. This alternative would also require extensive negotiations with both landowners for easement rights and the City of Wausau regarding water rates. The cost to construct a pipeline between Abbotsford and Wausau is costly due to a number of issues including easement costs, high bedrock, wetlands and rough terrain.
This part of the state has many areas where the bedrock is within two feet of the surface, requiring a high rock excavation cost. Numerous wetlands along the entire route and very hilly terrain near Wausau would result in high construction costs. This alternative requires two pumping stations due the excessive pressure that develops from the changes in terrain and the length of the pipeline. The amount of storage required for this alternative is 500,000 gallons. Additional storage may be required with future growth due to the long length of pipeline and higher risk of a disruption in water supply due to pipeline break. Also included in this alternative are the industrial park distribution/metering system and west wellfield improvements.
A disadvantage of this alternative is that even with a connection to a regional alternative, the City would continue to utilize their existing water system, including wells, due to the long term investment in this infrastructure.
