Overview of Water Utility
Conservation Programs in
Wisconsin
WPUI: The Undiluted Cost of Energy and Water
June 25, 2015
Denise Schmidt, Policy Initiatives Advisor
Wisconsin’s Water Resources
Why Conservation in a Great Lakes State?
Water Use Trends in Wisconsin
700
Public Supply
Millions of Gallons per Day
600
Industrial Self-Supplied
500
400
Irrigation Self-Supplied
300
Rural Domestic/Livestock
200
100
Commercial Self-Supplied
0
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Source: Buchwald, C.A, 200, Water Use in Wisconsin, 2005, US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1076, 74 p.
2013 Total Groundwater Withdrawals
by Water Use
250 billion gallons statewide
Source: Wisconsin Water Use 2013 Expanded Withdrawal Summary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
2013 Total Surface Water Withdrawals
by Water Use
1.87 trillion gallons statewide
Source: Wisconsin Water Use 2013 Expanded Withdrawal Summary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source of Public Utility Water Supply in
Wisconsin (2013)
Surface Water
78.2 billion
Groundwater
94.1 billion
Residential Sales Volume per
Customer (Statewide Average)
60
Thousands of gallons
58.5
58
56
55.9
55.1
54.8
54
52.2
52.3
52
50.4
50
48
46
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Regional Water
Constraints
Components of PSC’s Conservation
and Efficiency Initiative
Reducing distribution system leaks and losses is the
most cost-effective way for Wisconsin water utilities to achieve water savings
Demand-Side Conservation Measures
•
36 utilities
•
12 communities
•
7 utilities
•
•
•
2 utilities
Conservation Program Elements
 Staff to support initiatives
 Develop conservation plan
 Integrate conservation into long






term water resource planning
Public outreach and education
Conservation rate structures
Billing practices
Landscape efficiency program
Water loss control program
Codes, standards, ordinances
Documentation and reporting
Billing Volume Units by Utility Class
350
300
# of Utilities
250
200
150
100
50
0
AB
C
Gallons
Cubic Feet
D
Billing Frequency by Utility Class
250
# of Utilities
200
150
Bimonthly
Monthly
100
Quarterly
50
0
AB
C
D
Annual Residential Water Use
Gallons per Residential Customer
80,000
75,000
BROOKFIELD
70,000
FITCHBURG
65,000
MADISON
60,000
MONONA
STATE AVERAGE
55,000
WAUKESHA
50,000
WHITEWATER
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Wisconsin Utility WaterSense Partners
Wisconsin AWE Members
Rebate & Incentive Programs
• Water utility and Focus on Energy programs
resulted in over 105 million gallons of water
saved in 2013/14 reporting year
Utility Rebates Reported in 2014
Annual Reports
9 utilities, 1,403 rebates
3 utilities, 461 rebates
2 utilities, 30 rebates
2 utilities, 704 rebates
1 utility, 98 rebates
1 utility, 40 rebates
1 utility, 4 rebates
Construction Authorization: Projects
Involving New Source of Supply
• Could the proposed project be reasonably
avoided or mitigated by reducing water loss?
• Could the project be reasonably avoided or
mitigated through conservation programs?
Source: PSC website,
Docket 5 – GF-197
What’s Next?
•Promotion of G480 Standard,
Financing Sustainable Water,
other tools
Denise Schmidt
[email protected]
http://psc.wi.gov/conservation/water/wcoverview.htm