Chapter 281

281.344(4)(b)4. 4. A person who applies under subd. 1. shall provide information about the potential impacts of the interbasin transfer on the waters of the Great Lakes basin and water dependent natural resources and any other information required by the department by rule.

281.344(4)(b)4m. 4m. If a person who applies under subd. 1. will not directly withdraw the water proposed to be transferred, the person shall identify any entities that may withdraw the water and provide evidence of support from each of those entities in the form of a letter or resolution.

281.344(4)(b)4p. 4p. If the person who applies under subd. 1. will not directly return the water to the Great Lakes basin, the person shall identify any entities that may return the water and provide evidence of support from each of those entities in the form of a letter or resolution.

281.344(4)(b)4s. 4s. If the proposal for which a person applies under subd. 1. is subject to the exception standard under par. (f), the person shall provide documentation of how the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the receiving water under par. (f) 3. will be protected and sustained as required under ss. 30.12, 281.15, and 283.31, considering the state of the receiving water before the proposal is implemented and considering potential adverse impacts due to changes in temperature and nutrient loadings. If the receiving water is a surface water body that is tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the person shall include a description of the flow of the receiving water before the proposal is implemented, considering both low and high flow conditions.

281.344(4)(b)5. 5. If the proposal for which a person applies under subd. 1. is subject to the exception standard under par. (f), the person shall provide an assessment of the individual impacts of the proposal for the purposes of par. (f) 5. The person may also include a cumulative impact assessment.

281.344(4)(bg) (bg) Determinations.

281.344(4)(bg)1. 1. The department shall determine whether a proposal under par. (b) is subject to par. (c) or (e) as follows:

281.344(4)(bg)1.a. a. If the proposal is to provide a public water supply within a single city, village, or town, the proposal is subject to par. (c) or (e) based on the boundaries of that city, village, or town.

281.344(4)(bg)1.b. b. If the proposal is to provide a public water supply within more than one city, village, or town, any portion of the proposal that provides a public water supply within a straddling community is subject to par. (c) and any portion of the proposal that provides a public water supply within a community described in par. (e) 1. (intro.) is subject to par. (e).

281.344(4)(bg)2. 2. For the purposes of applying the requirements in pars. (c), (e), and (f) to a proposal under par. (b), the department shall use, as appropriate, the planned service area of the public water supply system receiving water under the proposal. The planned service area is the service area of the system at the end of any planning period authorized by the department in the approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(c) (c) Straddling communities. The department may approve a proposal under par. (b) to begin an interbasin transfer, increase an interbasin transfer, or expand an interbasin transfer area, to an area within a straddling community but outside the Great Lakes basin or outside the source watershed if the water transferred will be used solely for public water supply purposes in the straddling community and all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(c)1. 1. An amount of water equal to the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin, less an allowance for consumptive use, will be returned to the source watershed.

281.344(4)(c)2. 2. No surface water or groundwater from outside the source watershed will be returned to the source watershed unless all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(c)2.a. a. The returned water will be from a water supply or wastewater treatment system that combines water from inside and outside the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4)(c)2.b. b. The returned water will be treated to meet applicable permit requirements under s. 283.31 and to prevent the introduction of invasive species into the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4)(c)2.c. c. The proposal maximizes the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed and minimizes the amount of water from outside the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed.

281.344(4)(c)2m. 2m. The proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(c)3. 3. If the proposal would result from a new withdrawal or an increase in a withdrawal that would average 100,000 gallons or more per day in any 90-day period, the proposal meets the exception standard under par. (f).

281.344(4)(d) (d) Intrabasin transfer.

281.344(4)(d)1. 1. The department may approve a proposal under par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which par. (c) does not apply that would average less than 100,000 gallons per day in every 90-day period, if the proposal meets the applicable requirements under s. 30.18, 281.34, or 281.41 or, if those sections do not apply, any requirements specified by the department by rule and, if the water will be used for public water supply purposes, the proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(d)2. 2. The department may approve a proposal under par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in or expansion of an intrabasin transfer to which par. (c) does not apply that would average more than 100,000 gallons per day in any 90-day period with a new water loss or an increase in water loss that would average less than 5,000,000 gallons per day in every 90-day period, if all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(d)2.a. a. The proposal meets the exception standard under par. (f), except that the water may be returned to a watershed within the Great Lakes basin other than the source watershed and par. (f) 3m. does not apply.

281.344(4)(d)2.b. b. The applicant demonstrates that there is no feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally sound water supply alternative within the watershed to which the water will be transferred, including conservation of existing water supplies as determined under par. (g).

281.344(4)(d)2.c. c. If the water will be used for public water supply purposes, the proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(d)3. 3. The department may approve a proposal under par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which par. (c) does not apply with a new water loss or an increase in water loss that would average 5,000,000 gallons per day or more in any 90-day period, if all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(d)3.a. a. The proposal meets the exception standard under par. (f).

281.344(4)(d)3.b. b. The applicant demonstrates that there is no feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally sound water supply alternative within the watershed to which the water will be transferred, including conservation of existing water supplies as determined under par. (g).

281.344(4)(d)3.c. c. If the water will be used for public water supply purposes, the proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(e) (e) Straddling counties.

281.344(4)(e)1. 1. The department may approve a proposal under par. (b) for a new interbasin transfer or an increase in an interbasin transfer if the water transferred will be used solely for public water supply purposes in a community within a straddling county or, if a community is partly within a straddling county and partly within a county that lies entirely outside the Great Lakes basin, the water transferred will be used solely for public water supply purposes in the portion of the community that is within the straddling county and all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(e)1.a. a. The community is without adequate supplies of potable water.

281.344(4)(e)1.b. b. The proposal meets the exception standard under par. (f).

281.344(4)(e)1.c. c. The proposal maximizes the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed and minimizes the amount of water from outside the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed.

281.344(4)(e)1.d. d. There is no reasonable water supply alternative within the watershed in which the community is located, including conservation of existing water supplies as determined under par. (g).

281.344(4)(e)1.e. e. The proposal will not endanger the integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem based upon a determination that the proposal will have no significant adverse impact on the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.

281.344(4)(e)1.em. em. The proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(e)2. 2. In determining whether to approve a proposal under this paragraph, the department shall give substantive consideration to whether the applicant provides sufficient scientifically based evidence that the existing water supply is derived from groundwater that is hydrologically interconnected to waters of the Great Lakes basin. The department may not use a lack of hydrological connection to the waters of the Great Lakes basin as a reason to disapprove a proposal.

281.344(4)(f) (f) Exception standard. A proposal to which par. (fm) does not apply meets the exception standard if subds. 1. to 7. apply to the proposal. A proposal to which par. (fm) applies meets the exception standard if the department considers, under par. (fm), whether:

281.344(4)(f)1. 1. The need for the proposed interbasin transfer cannot reasonably be avoided through the efficient use and conservation of existing water supplies as determined under par. (g).

281.344(4)(f)2. 2. The interbasin transfer is limited to quantities that are reasonable for the purposes for which the interbasin transfer is proposed.

281.344(4)(f)3. 3. An amount of water equal to the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin will be returned to the source watershed, less an allowance for consumptive use.

281.344(4)(f)3m. 3m. The place at which the water is returned to the source watershed is as close as practicable to the place at which the water is withdrawn, unless the applicant demonstrates that returning the water at that place is one of the following:

281.344(4)(f)3m.a. a. Not cost-effective.

281.344(4)(f)3m.b. b. Not environmentally sound.

281.344(4)(f)3m.c. c. Not in the interest of public health.

281.344(4)(f)4. 4. No water from outside the Great Lakes basin will be returned to the source watershed unless all of the following apply:

281.344(4)(f)4.a. a. The returned water is from a water supply or wastewater treatment system that combines water from inside and outside the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4)(f)4.b. b. The returned water will be treated to meet applicable permit requirements under s. 283.31 and to prevent the introduction of invasive species into the Great Lakes basin and the department has approved the permit under s. 283.31.

281.344(4)(f)4.c. c. If the water is returned through a structure on the bed of a navigable water, the structure is designed and will be operated to meet the applicable permit requirements under s. 30.12 and the department has approved the permit under s. 30.12.

281.344(4)(f)4m. 4m. If water will be returned to the source watershed through a stream tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the receiving water under subd. 3. will be protected and sustained as required under ss. 30.12, 281.15, and 283.31, considering the state of the receiving water before the proposal is implemented and considering both low and high flow conditions and potential adverse impacts due to changes in temperature and nutrient loadings.

281.344(4)(f)5. 5. The interbasin transfer will result in no significant adverse individual impacts or cumulative impacts to the quantity or quality of the waters of the Great Lakes basin or to water dependent natural resources, including cumulative impacts that might result due to the proposed interbasin transfer, based upon a determination that the proposed interbasin transfer will not have any significant adverse impacts on the sustainable management of the waters of the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4)(f)6. 6. The applicant commits to implementing the applicable water conservation measures under sub. (8) (d) that are environmentally sound and economically feasible for the applicant.

281.344(4)(f)7. 7. The interbasin transfer will be in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and interstate and international agreements, including the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

281.344(4)(fm) (fm) Approval of certain applications. The department shall determine whether to grant an approval under par. (c) or (e) of an application under par. (b) 1. through the water supply service area planning process under s. 281.348, considering the items in par. (f) 1. to 7. as factors in the cost-effectiveness analysis under s. 281.348 (3) (d) 1.

281.344(4)(g) (g) Conservation and efficient use of existing water supplies. The department shall promulgate rules specifying the requirements for an applicant for a new, increased, or expanded interbasin transfer subject to par. (f) to demonstrate the efficient use and conservation of existing water supplies for the purposes of pars. (d) 2. b. and 3. b., (e) 1. d., and (f) 1., including requiring the applicant to document the water conservation planning and analysis used to identify the water conservation and efficiency measures that the applicant determined were feasible.

281.344(4)(i) (i) Interbasin transfer amount. In an approval issued under this subsection or a modification granted under this subsection to increase the amount of an interbasin transfer, the department shall specify an interbasin transfer amount equal to the quantity of water that is reasonable for the purposes for which the interbasin transfer is proposed.

281.344(4e) (4e) Determining initial withdrawal amounts for withdrawals from the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4e)(a) (a) Before issuing automatic notice of coverage under a general permit under sub. (4s) or an automatic individual permit under sub. (5) (c) for a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin for which the department is required to issue automatic notice of coverage under a general permit or an automatic individual permit, the department shall determine the initial withdrawal amount for the withdrawal under this subsection.

281.344(4e)(b) (b)

281.344(4e)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3e. and par. (f), the department shall estimate the initial withdrawal amount for a withdrawal based on the maximum hydraulic capacity of the most restrictive component in the water supply system used for the withdrawal as of the date that the department makes the estimate, based on information available to the department.

281.344(4e)(b)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3e., if the department has issued an approval under s. 30.12, 30.18, 281.34, or 281.41, or s. 281.17, 2001 stats., that is required for a withdrawal and the approval contains a limit on the amount of water that may be withdrawn, the department shall provide an estimate of the initial withdrawal amount equal to the limit in the approval.

281.344(4e)(b)3e. 3e. If water is withdrawn through more than one water supply system to serve a facility, the department shall determine the amount under subd. 1. for each of the water supply systems to which subd. 2. does not apply and shall determine the amount under subd. 2. for each of the water supply systems to which subd. 2. applies and shall provide an estimate of the initial withdrawal amount that is equal to the sum of the amounts determined for each of the water supply systems.

281.344(4e)(c) (c) The department shall provide the estimate under par. (b) for a withdrawal to the person making the withdrawal.

281.344(4e)(d) (d) After receiving an estimate under par. (c), a person making a withdrawal may provide the department with information relating to any of the following:

281.344(4e)(d)1. 1. The components of the water supply system used for the withdrawal.

281.344(4e)(d)2. 2. Seasonal variations in the amount of water supplied by the water supply system.

281.344(4e)(d)3. 3. Plans for expanding the capacity of the water supply system submitted to the department no later than 2 years after June 11, 2008.

281.344(4e)(d)4. 4. Amounts withdrawn during the 5 years before the year in which the person submits the information.

281.344(4e)(d)5. 5. Successful water conservation efforts by persons using the water that is withdrawn.

281.344(4e)(d)6. 6. Water loss from consumptive uses of similar types of users compared to the water loss from consumptive use of persons using the water that is withdrawn.

281.344(4e)(d)7. 7. Other relevant information.

281.344(4e)(e) (e) Except as provided in par. (f), the department shall determine the initial withdrawal amount for a withdrawal based on the estimate under par. (b) and the department’s evaluation of any information provided under par. (d). The department may not consider information provided by any other person.

281.344(4e)(f) (f) For a public water supply system that, on June 11, 2008, has approval under s. 281.41 to provide water from the Great Lakes basin for public water supply purposes outside of the Great Lakes basin and approval under s. 283.31 to return the associated wastewater to the Great Lakes basin, the department shall determine the initial withdrawal amount to be the amount of water necessary to provide water for public water supply purposes in the service territory specified in the sewer service area provisions of the areawide water quality management plan under s. 283.83 approved by the department before December 31, 2007, based on the population and related service projections in those provisions.

281.344(4e)(g) (g) The department’s determination of an initial withdrawal amount under par. (e) or (f) is not subject to administrative review under ch. 227 except at the request of the person making the withdrawal.

281.344(4e)(h) (h) If 2 or more public water supply systems merge after the department determines their initial withdrawal amounts under par. (e) and before the department issues the initial individual permits under sub. (5) (c) for the systems, the initial withdrawal amount for the new system is the sum of the amounts determined under par. (e) for the individual systems.

281.344(4m) (4m) Water use permits required in the Great Lakes basin. Beginning on June 1, 2015, except as provided in sub. (4s) (bm), a person may not make a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period unless the withdrawal is covered under a general permit under sub. (4s) or an individual permit under sub. (5).

281.344(4s) (4s) General water use permits for Great Lakes basin.

281.344(4s)(a) (a) Department to issue. The department shall issue one or more general permits to cover withdrawals from the Great Lakes basin that average 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period but that do not equal at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for any 30 consecutive days. The department shall include all of the following in a general permit:

281.344(4s)(a)1. 1. Reference to the database of withdrawal amounts under par. (i).

281.344(4s)(a)2. 2. Requirements for estimating the amount withdrawn, monitoring the withdrawal, if necessary, and reporting the results of the estimating and monitoring, as provided in rules promulgated by the department.

281.344(4s)(a)3. 3. Requirements for water conservation, as provided in rules promulgated by the department under sub. (8) (d).

281.344(4s)(am) (am) Term of general permit. The term of a general permit issued under par. (a) is 25 years.

281.344(4s)(b) (b) General requirement. Beginning on the date under sub. (4m), a person who does not hold an individual permit under sub. (5) may not make a withdrawal that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, but that does not equal at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for any 30 consecutive days, unless the withdrawal is covered under a general permit, except as provided in par. (bm). A person to whom the department has issued a notice of coverage under a general permit shall comply with the general permit.

281.344(4s)(bm) (bm) Waiver. The department may waive the requirement to obtain coverage under a general permit for a person making a withdrawal that is covered by a permit under s. 30.18 (2) (a).

281.344(4s)(c) (c) Automatic notice of coverage for existing withdrawals. The department shall automatically issue a notice of coverage under a general permit to a person who makes a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin and who reports under sub. (3) (e) before the date under sub. (4m), if the withdrawal averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period but does not equal at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for any 30 consecutive days. If necessary, the department may request additional information before issuing a notice under this paragraph. The department shall issue a notice under this paragraph no later than the date under sub. (4m). The department may promulgate a rule under which the department issues automatic notices of coverage under a general permit on a staggered schedule before the date under sub. (4m). In the notice provided under this paragraph for a withdrawal, the department shall specify a withdrawal amount equal to the initial withdrawal amount determined under sub. (4e) for the withdrawal.

281.344(4s)(d) (d) Coverage under general permit for new or increased withdrawals.

281.344(4s)(d)1. 1. A person who proposes to begin a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin that will average 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, or to increase an existing withdrawal so that it will average 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, after June 1, 2011, and to whom the department is not required to issue automatic notice of coverage under a general permit under par. (c), but who does not propose to withdraw at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for any 30 consecutive days, shall apply to the department for coverage under a general permit. In the application, the person shall provide the information required by the department by rule.

281.344(4s)(d)2. 2. After receiving an application under subd. 1., the department shall, within the time limit established by the department by rule, determine whether the withdrawal qualifies for coverage under a general permit or notify the applicant of any additional information needed to determine whether the withdrawal qualifies for coverage under a general permit.

281.344(4s)(d)3. 3. Except as provided in subd. 3m., if the department determines that a withdrawal qualifies for coverage under a general permit and the department has issued any approvals that are required for the withdrawal under s. 30.12, 30.18, 281.34, or 281.41 or s. 281.17, 2001 stats., the department shall issue a notice of coverage. In the notice, the department shall specify a withdrawal amount that is, except as provided in subd. 3e., equal to the smallest of the following amounts: