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281.348(2)(a)(a) For the purposes of this section, the surface water divide is used to determine whether a withdrawal of surface water or groundwater is from the Great Lakes basin.
281.348(2)(b)(b) For the purposes of this section, the withdrawal of water from more than one source within the Great Lakes basin to supply a common distribution system is considered one withdrawal.
281.348(3)(3)Requirements.
281.348(3)(a)1.1. The department shall establish, by rule, and administer a continuing water supply planning process for the preparation of water supply plans for persons operating public water supply systems. The period covered by a plan under this subsection may not exceed 20 years. A regional planning commission may prepare plans for persons operating public water supply systems.
281.348(3)(a)2.2. A person operating a public water supply system that serves a population of 10,000 or more and that withdraws water from the waters of the state shall prepare a plan under this section no later than December 31, 2025.
281.348(3)(a)3.3. A person operating a public water supply system shall obtain department approval of a water supply service area plan that provides for a new or increased diversion that requires approval under s. 281.346 (4) or a new or increased withdrawal that requires approval under s. 281.346 (4s) or (5).
281.348(3)(a)4.4. Except as provided in subd. 3., a person operating a public water supply system is not required to obtain department approval of a water supply service area plan.
281.348(3)(b)(b) The department shall include in the process under par. (a) procedures and requirements for all of the following:
281.348(3)(b)1.1. Public review and comment on a proposed plan. For a plan prepared after the compact’s effective date covering a public water supply system that withdraws water from the Great Lakes basin, the procedures and requirements under this subdivision shall be consistent with s. 281.343 (6) (b).
281.348(3)(b)2.2. Submission of the plan to the governing body of each city, village, and town whose public water supply is addressed by the plan.
281.348(3)(b)2e.2e. Submission of the plan to the department if department approval is required under par. (a) 3.
281.348(3)(b)2m.2m. Approval of the plan by the department if department approval is required under par. (a) 3.
281.348(3)(b)3.3. Ensuring that plans remain current.
281.348(3)(b)5.5. Reopening or reconsideration by the department of a previously approved plan.
281.348(3)(bm)(bm) A person preparing a plan under par. (a) shall consider existing regional water needs assessments and other regional water supply planning information.
281.348(3)(c)(c) A person preparing a plan under par. (a) shall include all of the following in the plan:
281.348(3)(c)1.1. Delineation of the area for which the plan is being prepared.
281.348(3)(c)1m.1m. If department approval is required, delineation of proposed water supply service areas for each public water supply system making a withdrawal covered by the plan, except as provided in par. (cr).
281.348(3)(c)2.2. An inventory of the sources and quantities of the current water supplies in the area.
281.348(3)(c)3.3. A forecast of the demand for water in the area over the period covered by the plan.
281.348(3)(c)3m.3m. Identification of the existing population and population density of the area for which the plan is prepared and forecasts of the expected population of the area during the period covered by the plan based on growth projections for the area and municipally planned population densities.
281.348(3)(c)4.4. Identification of options for supplying water in the area for the period covered by the plan that are approvable under other applicable statutes and rules.
281.348(3)(c)4m.4m. A cost-effectiveness analysis of regional and individual water supply and water conservation alternatives if the plan provides for a new or increased diversion requiring approval under s. 281.346 (4) or a new or increased withdrawal requiring approval under s. 281.346 (4s) or (5).
281.348(3)(c)5.5. An assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of carrying out specific significant recommendations of the plan.
281.348(3)(c)6.6. A demonstration that the plan will effectively utilize existing water supply storage and distribution facilities and wastewater infrastructure to the extent practicable.
281.348(3)(c)7.7. Identification of the procedures for implementing and updating the plan.
281.348(3)(c)8.8. An analysis of how the plan supports and is consistent with applicable comprehensive plans, as defined in s. 66.1001 (1) (a), and applicable approved areawide water quality management plans under s. 283.83.
281.348(3)(c)9.9. Other information specified by the department.
281.348(3)(cm)(cm) For the purposes of plans under par. (a), an areawide water quality planning agency designated by the governor under ch. NR 121, Wis. Adm. Code, may provide regional water needs assessments and other regional water supply planning information.
281.348(3)(cr)(cr) For the purposes of plans under par. (a), if the Great Lakes council approves a diversion area for a public water supply system proposing to make a diversion from the Great Lakes basin under s. 281.346 (4) (e), that diversion area shall be the delineated water supply service area for purposes of this section and does not need to be consistent with the approved areawide water quality management plan under s. 283.83 for the planning area.
281.348(3)(d)(d) If department approval of a plan is required, the department may not approve a plan unless all of the following apply:
281.348(3)(d)1.1. The plan provides for a water supply system that is approvable under this section and other applicable statutes and rules based on a cost-effectiveness analysis of regional and individual water supply and water conservation alternatives.
281.348(3)(d)2.2. The plan will effectively utilize existing water supply storage and distribution facilities and wastewater infrastructure to the extent practicable.
281.348(3)(d)3.3. The plan is consistent with applicable comprehensive plans, as defined in s. 66.1001 (1) (a).
281.348(3)(d)5.5. Beginning on December 8, 2011, if the plan covers a public water supply system that withdraws water from the Great Lakes basin, the plan complies with any applicable requirements in s. 281.346 (5e).
281.348(3)(e)(e) The department shall specify in its approval of a plan under this section a water supply service area for each public water supply system making a withdrawal covered by the plan. The department may not limit water supply service areas based on jurisdictional boundaries, except as necessary to prevent waters of the Great Lakes basin from being transferred from a county that lies completely or partly within the Great Lakes basin into a county that lies entirely outside the Great Lakes basin, or except where the water supply service area is delineated by a diversion area approved by the Great Lakes council under par. (cr).
281.348(3)(f)(f) A person applying for an approval under s. 281.344 (4) or 281.346 (4) may use elements of an approved plan under this subsection to show compliance with requirements under s. 281.344 (4) or 281.346 (4) to which the plan is relevant.
281.348(4)(4)Withdrawal amount in certain plans. If a plan under this section that covers a public water supply system making a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin requires department approval, the department shall specify a withdrawal amount for the public water supply system equal to the greatest of the following:
281.348(4)(a)(a) The amount needed for the public water supply system to provide a public water supply in the water supply service area in the plan during the period covered by the plan, as determined using the population and related service projections in the plan.
281.348(4)(b)(b) If the withdrawal is covered by an individual permit issued under s. 281.344 (5) or 281.346 (5) when the department approves the plan, the withdrawal amount in that permit when the department approves the plan or, if the withdrawal is covered by a general permit issued under s. 281.344 (4s) or 281.346 (4s) when the department approves the plan, the withdrawal amount for the public water supply system in the database under s. 281.346 (4s) (i) when the department approves the plan.
281.348(5)(5)Water supply service area. A water supply service area plan prepared under this section does not create, establish, or evidence an obligation for any water utility to provide service to the service area delineated or covered in the plan. The public service commission may not require a water utility to extend or provide service to an area on the basis of the provisions of a plan.
281.348 HistoryHistory: 2007 a. 227; 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 38; 2021 a. 126.
281.35281.35Water resources conservation and management.
281.35(1)(1)Definitions. In this section:
281.35(1)(a)(a) “Approval” means a permit issued under s. 30.18, 281.344 (5), or 281.346 (5) or an approval under s. 281.17 (1), 2001 stats., or s. 281.34 or 281.41.
281.35(1)(b)(b) “Authorized base level of water loss” means any of the following:
281.35(1)(b)1.1. The maximum 30-day average water loss authorized as a condition of an approval.
281.35(1)(b)2.2. If subd. 1. does not apply, the highest average daily water loss over any 30-day period that is reported to the department under s. 281.17, 2001 stats., or s. 30.18 (6) (c), 281.34, 281.344 (5), 281.346 (5), or 281.41.
281.35(1)(b)3.3. If there is no water loss from an existing withdrawal, zero gallons per day.
281.35(1)(bm)(bm) “Compact’s effective date” means the effective date of the Great Lakes — St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact under s. 281.343.
281.35(1)(c)(c) “Consumptive use” means a use of waters of the state, other than an interbasin diversion, that results in a failure to return any or all of the water to the basin from which it is withdrawn. “Consumptive uses” include, but are not limited to, evaporation and incorporation of water into a product or agricultural crop.
281.35(1)(cm)(cm) “Facility” means an operating plant or establishment providing electricity to the public or carrying on any manufacturing activity, trade, or business on one site, including similar plants or establishments under common ownership or control located on contiguous properties.
281.35(1)(d)(d) “Great Lakes basin” means the watershed of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River upstream from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
281.35(1)(e)(e) “Great Lakes charter” means the document establishing the principles for the cooperative management of Great Lakes water resources, signed by the governors and premiers of the Great Lakes region on February 11, 1985.
281.35(1)(f)(f) “Great Lakes region” means the geographic region composed of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.
281.35(1)(g)(g) “Interbasin diversion” means a transfer of the waters of the state from either the Great Lakes basin or the upper Mississippi River basin to any other basin.
281.35(1)(h)(h) “International joint commission” means the commission established by the boundary water agreement of 1909 between the United States and Canada.
281.35(1)(i)(i) “Person” has the meaning given in s. 281.01 (9) and also includes special purpose districts established under s. 66.0827, other states and provinces and political subdivisions of other states and provinces.
281.35(1)(j)(j) “Upper Mississippi River basin” means the watershed of the Mississippi River upstream from Cairo, Illinois.
281.35(1)(k)(k) “Upper Mississippi River region” means the geographic region composed of the states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.
281.35(1)(L)(L) “Water loss” means a loss of water from the basin from which it is withdrawn as a result of interbasin diversion or consumptive use or both.
281.35(1)(m)(m) “Withdrawal” means the removal or taking of water from the waters of the state.
281.35(2)(2)Aggregation of multiple withdrawals. In calculating the total amount of an existing or proposed water loss for purposes of determining the applicability of sub. (4), a person shall include all separate interbasin diversions and consumptive uses, or combinations thereof, which the person makes or proposes to make to supply a single facility or public water supply system.
281.35(4)(4)Water loss approval required.
281.35(4)(a)(a) This subsection applies to all of the following:
281.35(4)(a)1.1. A person to whom a permit has been issued under s. 30.18 or who is required to obtain a permit under that section before beginning or increasing a withdrawal.
281.35(4)(a)2.2. A person who is operating a well under an approval issued under s. 281.17 (1), 2001 stats.
281.35(4)(a)2m.2m. A person who is operating a well under an approval issued under s. 281.34 or who is required to obtain an approval under that section before constructing a well.
281.35(4)(a)3.3. An owner who is operating a system or plant under plans approved under s. 281.41 or who is required to submit plans and obtain an approval under that section before construction or extension of a proposed system or plant.
281.35(4)(a)4.4. A person to whom a permit under s. 281.344 (5) or 281.346 (5) has been issued or who is required to obtain a permit under one of those provisions before beginning or increasing a withdrawal.
281.35(4)(b)(b) Before any person specified in par. (a) may begin a new withdrawal or increase the amount of an existing withdrawal, the person shall apply to the department under s. 30.18, 281.34, 281.344 (5), 281.346 (5), or 281.41 for a new approval or a modification of its existing approval if either of the following conditions applies:
281.35(4)(b)1.1. The person proposes to begin a new withdrawal that will result in a water loss averaging more than 2,000,000 gallons per day in any 30-day period.
281.35(4)(b)2.2. The person proposes to increase an existing withdrawal that will result in a water loss averaging more than 2,000,000 gallons per day in any 30-day period above the person’s authorized base level of water loss.
281.35(5)(5)Application; approval; denial.
281.35(5)(a)(a) Application. An application under sub. (4) (b) shall contain a statement of and documentation for all of the following:
281.35(5)(a)1.1. The current operating capacity of the withdrawal system, if the proposed increase requires the expansion of an existing system.
281.35(5)(a)2.2. The total new or increased operating capacity of the withdrawal system.
281.35(5)(a)3.3. The place and source of the proposed withdrawal.
281.35(5)(a)4.4. The place of the proposed discharge or return flow.
281.35(5)(a)5.5. The place and nature of the proposed water use.
281.35(5)(a)6.6. The estimated average annual and monthly volumes and rates of withdrawal.
281.35(5)(a)7.7. The estimated average annual and monthly volumes and rates of water loss.
281.35(5)(a)8.8. The anticipated effects, if any, that the withdrawal will have on existing uses of water resources and related land uses both within and outside of the Great Lakes basin or the upper Mississippi River basin.
281.35(5)(a)9.9. Any land acquisition, equipment, energy consumption or the relocation or resiting of any existing community, facility, right-of-way or structure that will be required.
281.35(5)(a)10.10. The total anticipated costs of any proposed construction.
281.35(5)(a)11.11. A list of all federal, state, provincial and local approvals, permits, licenses and other authorizations required for any proposed construction.
281.35(5)(a)13.13. A statement as to whether the proposed withdrawal complies with all applicable plans for the use, management and protection of the waters of the state and related land resources, including plans developed under s. 283.83.
281.35(5)(a)14.14. A description of other ways the applicant’s need for water may be satisfied if the application is denied or modified.
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2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on January 1, 2025. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after January 1, 2025, are designated by NOTES. (Published 1-1-25)