Milwaukee's mayor is offering a water discount

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee is offering a discount on water.

Mayor Tom Barrett is giving a water rate discount to businesses that use a large quantity of water in their processing activities, like cooling and washing or in its food and beverage production.

Barrett says he hopes the discount will help attract business and encourage expansion.

Carrie Lewis, superintendent at Milwaukee Water Works, says treatment plants are operating at only a third of capacity, since they were built when Milwaukee had more water-using industries.

A new customer would have to use at least 500,000 gallons of water per month. An existing customer must use at least 1 million gallons per month and increase consumption. Both have to create at least 25 jobs.

The two-year program offers the rates for five years.