Washburn Municipal Utilities

The City of Washburn operates municipal water distribution, sewage and waste water, and storm water collection system for residents of the community. This web page provides basic information on the utilities, as well as current rates. Select any of the links below for:

Water Distribution System

The Washburn Water Utility

The water utility is one of two utility operations of the Washburn Municipal Utilities. The other is the City's wastewater utility. The operations of the water utility are regulated by both the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In addition, the operation of the Barksdale water line extension is governed by the three party Agreement between Dupont, the City of Washburn and the Town of Barksdale noted earlier.

New: Now Available
Important Information About
Your Drinking Water
(PDF, 84 kb)

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin: The PSCW establishes the tariff under which the utility operates including rates and service rules. The complete tariff is available at the Washburn City Hall or the offices of the PSCW. The PSCW operates a web site at http://psc.wi.gov/ with information on municipal utility operations.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: The WDNR regulates the water quality of the public water supplies within the state. In addition, the Department approves all new construction and renovation projects to insure they meet the necessary construction, safety, and reliability standards established for water utilities. The WDNR drinking water supply website is http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/orq/water/dwq/.

Water Quality: The Washburn municipal water supply is tested regularly for coliform bacteria, fluoride, inorganics, volatile organics, synthetic organics, and lead & copper . Testing is conducted at specified intervals for additional substances identified by the WDNR. Annually, the utility must file a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with the WDNR listing the quality of the utility's water supply and violations of the Department's operating rules. The annual CCR, along with past reports, are available at City Hall for review and are posted on the City's and WDNR's website.

Water Treatment: The quality of the deep groundwater aquifer supplying the municipal water supply does require additional treatment such as chlorination.

Flushing: The employees of the Washburn Municipal Utilities are proud of the quality of water the City provides its customers. However, water within long pipelines sometimes acquires an odor from stagnation. Stagnation occurs when the capacity of the main exceeds the consumption of water by the customers attached to the main. Flushing hydrants are provided on the Barksdale water line to remove stagnant water at periodic intervals throughout the year.

Flushing will disrupt scale that builds up within the main and will discolor water for short periods of time after flushing is undertaken. If an odor problem occurs with your water supply, please call the Washburn Public Works Department during normal business hours to discuss the issue. If water discoloration occurs after a flushing sequence, let your household water run until the stream of water clears up. If after 20 minutes, the stream of water does not clear up, call the utility.

Disruptions of Service: The Utility will notify all customers of any planned disruption of service a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled disruption. However, unplanned disruptions will occur due to emergencies. Unplanned disruptions occur because of breaks in the main from natural causes or, more likely than not, from man made causes such as the digging into a main or lateral by someone who failed to notify Digger's Hotline to have the pipeline located.

(Current Rates Effective 11/1/04)

NOTICE To the Customers of the Washburn Municipal Utilities:

By ordinance adopted April 25, 2005, the Common Council for the City of Washburn has approved new rates for the Washburn wastewater utility.

The new rates will be implemented on June 1, 2005 and will begin appearing on subsequent bills. The ordinance maintains the utility's practice of monthly pilling of quarterly wastewater charges.

The First Bill of the quarter will continue to contain 1/2 of the quarterly minimum Service Charge. The Second Bill of a quarter will continue to contain the second 1/2 of the quarterly minimum Service Charge. The Final Bill of each quarter will continue to contain the quarterly Volume Charge.

The increase was requested by the Utility to eliminate the recurring annual operating deficit and amortize the cost of the current sanitary sewer renovation program. The approved increase is the second wastewater rate increase since 1997.

QUARTERLY FIXED CHARGE (General Metered Service - Mg-1):

VOLUME CHARGE:

• First 25,000 gallons used per quarter: $2.68 per 1,000 Gallons

• Next 175,000 gallons used per quarter: $1.75 per 1,000 Gallons

• Over 200,000 gallons used per quarter: $1.258 per 1,000 Gallons

BILL PAYMENT:  Utility service is billed monthly in accordance with the following schedule:

• First monthly bill of each quarter consists of 1/2 of quarterly fixed charge

• Second monthly bill of each quarter consists of 1/2 of quarterly fixed charge

• Third monthly bill of each quarter consists of the quarterly volume charge.

Bills are due upon issuance and are payable to the City of Washburn via the mail, at City Hall, 119 Washington Avenue, or via electronic debit.  Contact the deputy treasurer at City Hall for further information on the electronic debit program.  An interest rate of 1% per month will be assessed on all outstanding balances not paid by the 20th of the month.  State Law and municipal ordinance permit delinquent utility charges to be attached to properties as a tax lien.

BARKSDALE WATER LINE

The Washburn municipal water system was extended to the vicinity of the former manufacturing site of the Dupont Company at Barksdale via a three part Agreement between the Dupont Company, the Town of Barksdale and the City of Washburn. The Agreement required Dupont to construct the water line, the Washburn Water utility to operate the extension, and the Town of Barksdale to give the Water Utility rights to operate and maintain the utility extension.

The Barksdale water line extension was constructed to serve properties identified by the Dupont Company as having contaminated water supplies, or the potential of contaminated water supplies resulting from its former manufacturing operations.

Additional Connections: Additional connections to the water line will be limited until Dupont is satisfied that its commitment has been met to provide an adequate and safe water supply to those town residents with contaminated wells, or properties with the potential of having a contaminated well.

Fire Protection: Pursuant to the aforementioned Agreement, the Barksdale water line was not constructed to provide fire flows or provide fire protection to those properties adjoining the water line. The water main was not sized for fire flows and fire hydrants were not provided beyond the City limits.

Property Restoration: As of the spring of 2005, property restoration activities are still underway. Restoration is the responsibility of the Dupont Company and contractor, not the City of Washburn.

Waste Water Collection System

The Washburn waste water collection system consists of 66,000 feet of pipe, and four lift stations, and a waste water treatment plant. The City's waste water treatment plant, placed on line in 1997 has a design capacity of 380,000 gallons per day. Click here for waste water Utility Rates.

SEWER RATES

The Washburn Waste Water Utility in accordance with a waste water discharge permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and provisions of Section 6-2-3, Washburn Code of Ordinances. Municipal ordinances are available for review at the utility business office, Washburn City Hall, 119 Washington Avenue, Washburn, Wisconsin during normal business hours.

Washburn Wastewater Utility Rates Effective June 1, 2005

QUARTERLY FIXED CHARGE:

Volume Charge:

$5.83 per thousand gallons used

BILL PAYMENT:

Utility service is billed monthly in accordance with the following schedule:

• The First Bill of the quarter will continue to contain 1/2 of the quarterly minimum Service Charge.

• The Second Bill of a quarter will continue to contain the second 1/2 of the quarterly minimum Service Charge.

• The Final Bill of each quarter will continue to contain the quarterly Volume Charge.

Bills are due upon issuance and are payable to the City of Washburn via the mail, at City Hall, 119 Washington Avenue, or via electronic debit. Contact the deputy treasurer at City Hall for further information on the electronic debit program. An interest rate of 1% per month will be assessed on all outstanding balances not paid by the 20th of the month. State Law and municipal ordinance permit delinquent utility charges to be attached to properties as a tax lien.

Tax Equivalent Payments - The Washburn Municipal Utilities paid $27,484 in tax equivalent payments to the City of Washburn in 2002.