Kaukauna Utilities (KU) has officially received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for key portions of its Water Treatment System Improvement Project, allowing construction to move forward on a reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant.
Project Timeline Remains on Track
The approvals keep the project closely aligned with KU’s original anticipated completion timeline of summer 2028. Construction on Water Treatment Plant #1 (adjacent to the City pool) will begin in July 2026.
The project schedule currently remains similar to the original timeline:
- July 2026 – Construction Begins
- Summer 2028 – Anticipated Water Treatment System Improvement Project Completion
The PSC has acknowledged the project cost increase and authorized the project to move forward. KU is awaiting final WDNR approvals for remaining components of the project. These approvals are expected within the next two months and are not anticipated to affect construction progress or the overall project schedule.
“This project remains one of the most important infrastructure investments in Kaukauna Utilities’ history,” said Michael Avanzi, KU General Manager. “Receiving these approvals allows us to continue moving forward with construction while remaining focused on delivering higher quality water for our customers for generations to come.”
Construction and Project Management
KU has awarded the construction contract for the project to Mid City Corporation, a Milwaukee-area contractor with extensive experience completing large-scale water infrastructure projects throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. They have successfully delivered several major water utility projects over the last decade.
KU continues to conduct ongoing risk identification and mitigation meetings with project contractors to proactively address challenges and help keep the project on schedule.
Funding
KU anticipates filing a two-step water rate increase with the PSC in the 3rd quarter of this year. The PSC review and approval process takes several months. The initial increase is anticipated to be approximately $24 per month for the typical residential water customer starting sometime in 2027. An additional water rate increase of approximately $4 per month is expected around project completion in 2028.
KU continues pursuing outside funding opportunities to help lessen the impact on customer bills. KU was awarded $1 million through the federal fiscal year 2026 appropriations process with support from Congressman Tony Wied and has also applied for fiscal year 2027 federal appropriations funding. FEMA grant funding is also being pursued.
Water Softener Optimization
In preparation for the future transition to softer water, KU is also developing a water softener optimization and removal program. Because reverse osmosis treatment will significantly reduce water hardness, the program will provide customers with options and guidance related to optimizing, or potentially removing, their water softeners based on individual preferences.
Additional details about the program will be shared with customers in early 2027, with implementation following completion of the water treatment project around the summer of 2028. KU continues to target a water hardness level of approximately 5.5 grains, a significant improvement from the current average hardness of approximately 40 grains.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Kaukauna Utilities invites the public to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for Water Treatment Plant #1, located adjacent to the City pool. The event will feature remarks from project stakeholders, a ceremonial groundbreaking, cookies, and refreshments.
Date: Tuesday, July 7th
Time: 10:00am
Location: 807 Boyd Avenue, Kaukauna (adjacent to the City pool)
Please RSVP here.
To RSVP by phone, or for questions related to the water treatment system improvement project, contact Water Superintendent, Andy Vanden Heuvel, at 920-858-9180.
Additional information and previous project updates are available at: https://www.kaukaunautilities.com/reverseosmosis/
