In 2015 the Sheboygan Water Utility began a project to install an entirely new ultraviolet disinfection system to the water treatment plant. This is now the final treatment that water leaving the plant receives before customer consumption. The water is exposed to a controlled dosage of ultraviolet light before it leaves the treatment plant. Ultraviolet light has the ability to destroy various bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts such as Crypto and giardia.
Over the years the practice of treating drinking water has advanced. Currently the best practice is to have two disinfection barriers between the drinking water source and the consumer. The Water Utility will continue to use chlorine as its primary disinfectant, but ultraviolet light will now provide a second disinfection barrier for the residents of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and Kohler. With only a primary disinfectant in place, a water treatment plant is more vulnerable to a possible failure.
The ultraviolet light is not a chemical additive; it is simply a source of light energy that can kill micro-organisms. Ultraviolet light is produced by specialized bulbs that are immersed in the flow of water through a stainless steel chamber providing the treatment to the water. There will be no change in the taste or appearance of Sheboygan’s water.
The utility received a low interest rate of 1.65% State of Wisconsin drinking water loan to construct the $2.9M project, which also qualified for $500,000 in principal forgiveness. Miron Construction was the low bidder for this project. The project installation was finished at the end of June and is the largest ultraviolet disinfection system in the state. Despite the addition of a UV disinfection system, the Sheboygan Water Utility will still have one of the lowest water rates in the state.
After an intensive year-long construction project, the Utility’s ultraviolet disinfection facility is now up and running! The ultraviolet system provides an additional barrier of disinfection for residents.
The Sheboygan Water Utility does not receive any tax monies from the City of Sheboygan, but must operate entirely on revenues from the sale of water. The Utility has operated for nearly 100 years as a public utility. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulate the Sheboygan Water Utility. Locally, the Utility is overseen by a Board of Water Commissioners who serve a three-year term and are elected by the Sheboygan Common Council.
The Water Treatment Plant, located at 72 Park Avenue, produces all of the potable water for Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and Kohler. On average, more than 15 million gallons of water are produced per day. Increased consumption in summer requires production of up to 27 million gallons of water per day. The municipal water distribution network throughout the city is maintained by the Sheboygan Water Utility. This consists of more than 205 miles of water mains, 3,000 valves, 2,000 fire hydrants, three booster stations, and six tanks or reservoirs. New water main design and installation is performed by the Utility in accordance with local ordinances. In addition, the Utility repairs broken water mains around the clock.
The Service Department of the Utility handles all aspects related to water meters for both residential and industrial customers: reading, installation, testing, and repair. The accuracy of the meters is important to ensure customers are charged accurately for their usage.
In addition to water charges for over 20,000 customers, the Utility also performs the billing, account maintenance, and collections for sanitary sewer usage and garbage collections.