It is perhaps the most important sales pitch Waukesha city leaders will make in a long time.  At stake? Water from Lake Michigan,

Members of the Great Lakes Regional Body met and toured the potential waterline from Lake Michigan to the city of Waukesha.

The group which consists of representatives from eight states and 2 Canadian provinces were welcomed to Waukesha by Mayor Shawn Reilly and other city officials at Carroll University.

The  group then boarded a bus to tour the route of the potential line.

Some of the stops included the Waukesha Public Works Department and several wells throughout the city.

The group is also able to ask city officials questions at each stop to better understand the impact the waterline could have on the area.

Both Mayor Reilly and representatives say this is an important step in the application process.

"A picture is worth 1000 words. To be able to see the area, see where the route gives them a much better understanding of what the application is all about, said Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly.

Julie Ekman, vice chair of the Compact Council Body and Regional Body added, "the application is thousands of pages long and the city of Waukesha has been working on this for a number of years, so we need to be able to digest all of that in just a few months so that's one of the challenges."