Milwaukee's Water Industry
Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a large and quickly expanding water industry. Over the period of several years, Milwaukee has become home to numerous large water companies such as Veolia and Badger Meter. With the recent creation of The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee's School of Freshwater Sciences, Milwaukee is now considered a leading innovator in water technology.
Photo of Milwaukee Water Works' treatment facility
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One of the many things about Milwaukee's water industry that sets it apart from the rest of the country is The Water Council. The Water Council is a collective of Milwaukee area water companies and supporters. Together, with the help of the community, businesses, and local politicians, The Water Council aims to make Milwaukee an ever growing force in the water industry. In September of 2013, The Water Council created The Global Water Center, which is located in the Walkers Point neighborhood of Milwaukee. The Global Water Center serves as a home to many university research facilities, along with being a home to numerous water related businesses. Aside from this, it is also home to a state-of-the-art water flow lab.
Economically speaking, Milwaukee's water industry is key for the city's future economic growth. Not only are more and more businesses relocating to Milwaukee as the central hub for the rising industry, they also work with the full spectrum of uses water has to offer. Focusing on growth of this sector would not only attract clients to Milwaukee, it could also open up a global market centered in the city. Additionally, due to the fact that the demand for Milwaukee's reliable water is fairly inelastic, the city will be able to raise water prices if needed which will cause a definite increase in revenue. With this added revenue, the city could potentially decrease taxes to attract more businesses and also provide tax-incremental financing for start-ups. Furthermore, the greater revenue from the higher prices will provide a more flexible development tool than lower prices. |
Information Sources:
"Policy Research Working Paper Abstract." UW-Milwaukee: Center for Economic Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Policy Research Working Paper Abstract." UW-Milwaukee: Center for Economic Development. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"The Water Council." The Water Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Can Milwaukee Build Its Future on Water?" www.nationaljournal.com. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.