Platteville City Water System Update

Current Conditions
The City gets its drinking water from three deep aquifer wells.  They are drilled to 900 – 1000 feet below the ground surface.  The wells are numbered Well 3, Well 5 and Well 6.  Wells are of limited lifespan – generally 80 – 100 years.  Well 3 has been in service since 1932 and is approaching the end of its useful life.  To maintain the amount of high quality water that our citizens demand, we need to replace Well 3 by 2030.

Possible solutions 

1. Run the well until it fails and replace the well at that time. This “run to failure” approach is often more costly and will leave the system with only two wells until a replacement well can be drilled and a new facility constructed. Under current regulations, it takes 24 – 36 months minimum to bring a new well online.  You need to determine the location of the new well, whether the ground has sufficient quantity of water and quality of water.  The latter is determined by drilling a test well to verify quantity and quality.
2. Drill a new well next to Well 3.  This option is not possible under current regulations.   Well 3 is “grandfathered” in its location on Valley Road.  There have been no water quality issues with the well, but current regulations require separation from potential contamination – such as former fertilizer/herbicide storage, bulk fuel tanks and the like. 
3. Find a new well location and drill Well 7.  The City has started this process with a well site investigation that will review potential well locations and determine one or more locations for a test well. The test well phase will confirm water quality and quantity.

Possible Timelines 
Well 7 Siting Study:  March 2026 – March 2027,

Well 7 Drilling, testing and approvals:  April 2027 – April 2028

Well 7 Treatment Facility Design, approvals and bidding:  April 2028 – April 2029

Well 7 Completion, testing and approvals to go on line:  April 2029 – December 2029

Well 7 On line:  January 2030

Possible Costs 
2026 – Well 7 Siting Study:    $70,000

2027 – Well 7 Test Well Drilling:    $200,000

2028 – Well 7 production well drilling:    $950,000

2029 – Well 7 Treatment Facility:    $2,800,000

Next Possible Steps 
We are currently doing the Well 7 Siting Study to review potential new locations.  We are also looking into possible grants and low-interest loans to help keep costs down.

Purpose & Hopeful Outcome 
The purpose is to have a solution to meeting the needs for safe drinking water in sufficient quantities to supply our citizens and industries for another 100 years.