Eckhart, Oshkosh plans to replace lakefront water tanks
Due to concerns over aesthetics, Oshkosh’s plans to replace lakefront water tanks haven’t been received well by the public. Dylan Eckhart has more.
Bremen Keasey of Oshkosh Northwestern reported that critics of Oshkosh’s plan to replace water tanks say they’d still like to see changes to the project.
Oshkosh Public Works Director James Rabe said city staff sent initial plans to the state Public Service Commission and the Department of Natural Resources for review but is still receiving and reviewing public comments after an Oct. 13 public informational meeting that explained why the plan is necessary.
Underground “clear wells” that are over 100 years old currently house the city’s drinking water supply, but new DNR regulations prohibit storing drinking water in direct contact with groundwater, and with Lake Winnebago being so close, the tanks do not meet regulations.
Underground structures are allowed, but they must have double or triple containment systems, which means they’re surrounded by walls of concrete, making them more expensive than alternative solutions. The current plan has an estimated cost of $26 million.
