281.344(1)(wp)

(wp) “Water supply system,” when not preceded by “public,” means one of the following:

281.344(2)(f)

(f) Water resources protection act.

281.344(4)(a)

(a) Prohibition. Beginning on June 11, 2008, all of the following apply:

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(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(9)(d)

(d) Public hearing.

281.344(2)(f)1.

1. In this paragraph, “historic” means made before June 11, 2008.

281.344(3)

(3) Statewide registration and reporting.

281.344(3)(a)

(a)

281.344(2)(c)

(c) Water loss. The department shall promulgate rules for determining the amount of water loss from consumptive uses.

281.344(1)

(1) Definitions. In this section:

281.344(4)(f)

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

281.344

281.344 Water conservation, reporting, and supply regulation; when compact is not in effect.

281.344(1)(d)

(d) “Community within a straddling county” means any city, village, or town that is not a straddling community and that is located outside the Great Lakes basin but wholly within a county that lies partly within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(dm)

(dm) “Compact” means the Great Lakes — St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact under § 281.343.

281.344(1)(dr)

(dr) “Compact’s effective date” means the effective date of the compact under § 281.343 (9)(d).

281.344(1)(y)

(y) “Withdraw” means to take water from surface water or groundwater.

281.344(2)

(2) Determinations concerning applicability of requirements.

281.344(1)(e)

(e) “Consumptive use” means a use of water that results in the loss of or failure to return some or all of the water to the basin from which the water is withdrawn due to evaporation, incorporation into products, or other processes.

281.344(1)(g)

(g) “Cumulative impacts” means the impacts on the Great Lakes basin ecosystem that result from incremental effects of all aspects of a withdrawal, interbasin transfer, or consumptive use in addition to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future withdrawals, interbasin transfers, and consumptive uses regardless of who undertakes the other withdrawals, interbasin transfers, and consumptive uses, including individually minor but collectively significant withdrawals, interbasin transfers, and consumptive uses taking place over a period of time.

281.344(1)(i)

(i) “Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation measures” means those measures, methods, or technologies for efficient water use and for reducing water loss and waste or for reducing the amount of a withdrawal, consumptive use, or interbasin transfer that are, taking into account environmental impact, the age and nature of equipment and facilities involved, the processes employed, the energy impacts, and other appropriate factors, all of the following:

281.344(1)(i)1.

1. Environmentally sound.

281.344(1)(i)2.

2. Reflective of best practices applicable to the water use sector.

281.344(1)(i)3.

3. Technically feasible and available.

281.344(1)(i)4.

4. Economically feasible and cost-effective based on an analysis that considers direct and avoided economic and environmental costs.

281.344(1)(j)

(j) “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.

281.344(1)(je)

(je) “Great Lakes basin” means the watershed of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River upstream from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

281.344(1)(ji)

(ji) “Great Lakes basin ecosystem” means the interacting components of air, land, water, and living organisms, including humans, within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(k)

(k) “Interbasin transfer” means a transfer of water from the Great Lakes basin into a watershed outside of the Great Lakes basin or from the watershed of one of the Great Lakes into that of another, except that “interbasin transfer” does not include any of the following:

281.344(1)(k)1.

1. The transfer of a product produced in the Great Lakes basin or in the watershed of one of the Great Lakes, using waters of the Great Lakes basin, out of the Great Lakes basin or out of that watershed.

281.344(1)(k)2.

2. The transmission of water within a line that extends outside the Great Lakes basin as it conveys water from one point to another within the Great Lakes basin if no water is used outside the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(k)3.

3. The transfer of bottled water from the Great Lakes basin in containers of 5.7 gallons or less.

281.344(1)(km)

(km) “Intrabasin transfer” means the transfer of water from the watershed of one of the Great Lakes into the watershed of another of the Great Lakes.

281.344(1)(o)1.

1. Water used as part of the packaging of a product is part of the product.

281.344(1)(o)4.

4. Water in its natural state, such as in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, aquifers, or water basins, is not a product.

281.344(1)(tm)

(tm) “Straddling county” means a county that lies partly within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(o)

(o) “Product” means something produced by human or mechanical effort or through agricultural processes and used in manufacturing, commercial, or other processes or intended for intermediate or ultimate consumers, subject to all of the following:

281.344(1)(o)2.

2. Other than water used as part of the packaging of a product, water that is used primarily to transport materials in or out of the Great Lakes basin is not a product or part of a product.

281.344(1)(o)3.

3. Except as provided in subd. 1., water that is transferred as part of a public or private supply is not a product or part of a product.

281.344(1)(pm)

(pm) “Public water supply” means water distributed to the public through a physically connected system of treatment, storage, and distribution facilities that serve a group of largely residential customers and that may also serve industrial, commercial, and other institutional customers.

281.344(1)(ps)

(ps) “Reasonable water supply alternative” means a water supply alternative that is similar in cost to, and as environmentally sustainable and protective of public health as, the proposed new or increased interbasin transfer and that does not have greater adverse environmental impacts than the proposed new or increased interbasin transfer.

281.344(1)(q)

(q) “Regional body” means the body consisting of the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and the premiers of Ontario and Quebec, Canada, or their designees, as established by the Great Lakes — St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.

281.344(1)(r)

(r) “Source watershed” means the watershed from which a withdrawal originates. If water is withdrawn directly from a Great Lake or from the St. Lawrence River, then the source watershed is the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, respectively. If water is withdrawn from the watershed of a stream that is a direct tributary to a Great Lake or a direct tributary to the St. Lawrence River, then the source watershed is the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, respectively.

281.344(1)(t)

(t) “Straddling community” means any city, village, or town that is partly within the Great Lakes basin or partly within the watersheds of 2 of the Great Lakes and that is wholly within any county that lies partly or completely within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(w)

(w) “Water dependent natural resources” means the interacting components of land, water, and living organisms affected by the waters of the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(wm)

(wm) “Water loss” means the amount of water that is withheld from or not returned to the basin from which it is withdrawn as a result of an interbasin transfer or consumptive use or both.

281.344(1)(wp)1.

1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the equipment handling water from the point of intake of the water to the first point at which the water is used.

281.344(1)(wp)2.

2. For a system for providing a public water supply, the equipment from the point of intake of the water to the first point at which the water is distributed.

281.344(4)(b)

(b) Application.

281.344(4)(bg)

(bg) Determinations.

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)(d)

(d) Intrabasin transfer.

281.344(1)(wr)

(wr) “Water utility” means a public utility, as defined in § 196.01 (5), that furnishes water.

281.344(1)(x)

(x) “Waters of the Great Lakes basin” means the Great Lakes and all streams, rivers, lakes, connecting channels, and other bodies of water, including tributary groundwater, within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(1)(z)

(z) “Withdrawal” means the taking of water from surface water or groundwater, including the taking of surface water or groundwater for the purpose of bottling the water.

281.344(1)(zm)

(zm) “Without adequate supplies of potable water” means without a water supply that is economically and environmentally sustainable in the long term to meet reasonable demands for a water supply in the quantity and quality that complies with applicable drinking water standards, is protective of public health, is available at a reasonable cost, and does not have adverse environmental impacts greater than those likely to result from the proposed new or increased interbasin transfer.

281.344(2)(a)

(a) Use of surface water divide. For the purposes of this section, the surface water divide is used to determine whether a withdrawal or transfer of surface water or groundwater is from the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(2)(b)

(b) Transfers and withdrawals from more than one source. For the purposes of this section, the interbasin transfer or withdrawal of water from more than one source within the Great Lakes basin to supply a single facility or public water supply system is considered one interbasin transfer or withdrawal.

281.344(2)(d)

(d) County boundaries. For the purposes of sub. (d), (t), and ™, a county’s boundaries as of December 13, 2005, shall be used to determine whether a county lies partly within the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(2)(e)

(e) Public trust doctrine. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to change the application of the public trust doctrine under article IX, section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution or to create any new public trust rights.

281.344(2)(f)2.

2. The department may not change its historic interpretation or application of 42 USC 1962d-20 (d) to a public water supply for a community in this state until that provision is amended. The department shall evaluate all applications under sub. (b) using the requirements in sub. (4) and shall apply those requirements uniformly.

281.344(3)(a)1.

1. Any person who, on June 1, 2011, has a water supply system with the capacity to make a withdrawal from the waters of the state averaging 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period or is making any interbasin transfer shall register the withdrawal or interbasin transfer with the department by the deadline specified by the department by rule. A person may register a withdrawal or interbasin transfer before June 1, 2011.

281.344(3)(a)2.

2. Any person who, after June 1, 2011, proposes to begin a withdrawal from the waters of the state using a water supply system that will have the capacity to withdraw an average of 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, to increase the capacity of a water supply system that existed on June 1, 2011, so that it will have the capacity to withdraw an average of 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, or to begin an interbasin transfer shall register the withdrawal or interbasin transfer with the department.

281.344(3)(b)

(b) A person to whom para. (a) applies shall register on a form prescribed by the department and provide all of the following information:

281.344(3)(b)1.

1. The name and address of the registrant and the date of registration.

281.344(3)(b)2.

2. The locations and sources of the withdrawal or interbasin transfer.

281.344(3)(b)3.

3. The daily capacity of the withdrawal or interbasin transfer and the daily capacity to withdraw or transfer from each source.

281.344(3)(b)4.

4. An estimate of the volume of the withdrawal or interbasin transfer in terms of gallons per day average in any 30-day period.

281.344(3)(b)4m.

4m. For a withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30 day period, an estimate of the maximum hydraulic capacity of the most restrictive component in each water supply system used for the withdrawal.

281.344(3)(b)5.

5. The uses made of the water.

281.344(3)(b)6.

6. The places at which the water is used.

281.344(3)(b)7.

7. The places at which any of the water is discharged.

281.344(3)(b)8.

8. Whether the water use is continuous or intermittent.

281.344(3)(b)9.

9. Whether the person holds a permit under § 283.31.

281.344(3)(b)10.

10. Other information required by the department by rule.

281.344(3)(c)

(c) The department shall maintain a registry containing the information provided under para. (b).

281.344(3)(e)

(e)

281.344(3e)

(3e) Determining initial interbasin transfer amounts.

281.344(3e)(b)1.

1. Outside of the Great Lakes basin.

281.344(3m)

(3m) Automatic approval for existing interbasin transfers.

281.344(3)(cm)

(cm) The department may consider domestic security concerns when determining whether information regarding locations of withdrawals and interbasin transfers contained in the registry under para. (c) may be released to the public.

281.344(3)(e)1.

1. Each person who makes a withdrawal from the waters of the state that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period or transfers from the Great Lakes basin any amount and who has registered the withdrawal or interbasin transfer under para. (a) shall annually report to the department the monthly volumes of withdrawal, whether the person ever withdraws at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for 30 consecutive days, and, if applicable, the volumes of interbasin transfer and, subject to para. (em), water loss from consumptive use.

281.344(3)(e)2.

2. In addition to the information required under subd. 1., the department may, by rule, create different reporting frequencies or require additional information from a person who registers a withdrawal, or interbasin transfer under para. (a) based upon the type or category of water use.

281.344(3)(em)

(em) If a person to whom par. (e) 1. applies provides any of the water that the person withdraws to a public water supply system, the person who operates the public water supply system, rather than the person who withdraws the water, shall annually report to the department the volume of water loss from the consumptive use of the water provided to the public water supply system.

281.344(3)(f)

(f) The department may require additional information under par. (b) 10. or (e) 2. only if the information is necessary to effectuate this section.

281.344(3e)(a)

(a) Before issuing an automatic approval under sub. (3m) (a) for an interbasin transfer to a person operating a public water supply system, the department shall determine the initial interbasin transfer amount for the interbasin transfer under par. (b).

281.344(3e)(b)

(b) The department shall determine the initial interbasin transfer amount for a public water supply system to be the amount of water necessary to provide water for public water supply purposes in the area in at least part of which the public water supply system delivers water to customers before the compact’s effective date that is all of the following:

281.344(4)

(4) New or increased interbasin transfers.

281.344(3e)(b)2.

2. Within a sewer service territory that provides for return of wastewater to the Great Lakes basin and that is specified in the sewer service area provisions of an areawide water quality management plan under § 283.83 approved by the department before December 31, 2007.

281.344(3e)(c)

(c) The department shall use the population and related service projections in the sewer service area provisions described in par. (b) 2. in making the determination under par. (b).

281.344(3e)(d)

(d) Before issuing an automatic approval under sub. (3m) (b) for an interbasin transfer to a person who does not operate a public water supply system, the department shall determine the initial interbasin transfer amount for the interbasin transfer. The department shall determine the interbasin transfer amount using the process and standards that it uses under sub. (4e) to determine an initial withdrawal amount.

281.344(3m)(a)

(a) Before the compact’s effective date, the department shall automatically issue an approval for an interbasin transfer that begins before the compact’s effective date, to a person who operates a public water supply system that receives water from the interbasin transfer and that delivers water to customers in an area that is outside of the Great Lakes basin and that is within a sewer service territory that provides for return of wastewater to the Great Lakes basin as specified in the sewer service area provisions of an areawide water quality management plan under § 283.83 approved by the department before December 31, 2007. The department may not issue an automatic approval under this subsection before the interbasin transfer begins. In the automatic approval, the department shall specify an interbasin transfer amount equal to the amount determined under sub. (3e) (b) and an interbasin transfer area that is the area described in sub. (3e) (b).

281.344(3m)(b)

(b) Before the compact’s effective date, the department shall automatically issue an approval for an interbasin transfer that begins before June 11, 2008, and that is not for public water supply purposes to the person who makes the interbasin transfer. In the automatic approval, the department shall specify an interbasin transfer amount equal to the amount determined under sub. (3e) (d).

281.344(4)(b)2.

2. A person may apply under subd. 1. for approval of a new, increased, or expanded interbasin transfer under para. (c) or (e) only if the person operates a public water supply system that receives or would receive water from the new, increased, or expanded interbasin transfer.

281.344(4)(a)1.

1. No person may begin an interbasin transfer, other than an interbasin transfer for which the department is required to issue an automatic permit under sub. (3m) (a), unless the interbasin transfer is covered by an approval under para. (c), (d), or (e).

281.344(4)(a)2.

2. No person may increase an interbasin transfer over the interbasin transfer amount in an approval issued under this subsection unless the department modifies the approval under para. (c), (d), or (e) to increase the interbasin transfer amount.

281.344(4)(a)3.

3. No person may increase an interbasin transfer over the interbasin transfer amount in an approval issued under sub. (3m) (a) or expand the interbasin transfer area beyond the area specified in an approval under sub. (3m) (a) unless the department modifies the approval under para. (c), (d), or (e) to increase the interbasin transfer amount or to expand the interbasin transfer area.

281.344(4)(a)4.

4. No person may increase an interbasin transfer over the interbasin transfer amount in an approval issued under sub. (3m) (b).

281.344(4)(b)1.

1. A person who proposes to begin an interbasin transfer, increase the amount of an interbasin transfer, or expand the interbasin transfer area of an interbasin transfer covered by an approval issued under sub. (3m) (a) shall apply to the department for approval.

281.344(4)(b)3.

3. Operators of 2 or more public water supply systems may submit a joint application under subd. 1. for a new, increased, or expanded interbasin transfer under para. (c) or (e).

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 para. (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 §§ 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(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)7.

7. Other relevant information.

281.344(4s)

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

281.344(4)(b)5.

5. If the proposal for which a person applies under subd. 1. is subject to the exception standard under para. (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)1.

1. The department shall determine whether a proposal under para. (b) is subject to para. (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 para. (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 para. (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 para. (e).

281.344(4)(d)3.a.

a. The proposal meets the exception standard under para. (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 para. (g).

281.344(4e)(d)2.

2. Seasonal variations in the amount of water supplied by the water supply system.

281.344(4)(bg)2.

2. For the purposes of applying the requirements in pars. (c), (e), and (f) to a proposal under para. (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 § 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(c)

(c) Straddling communities. The department may approve a proposal under para. (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.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 § 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 § 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 para. (f).

281.344(4)(e)1.a.

a. The community is without adequate supplies of potable water.

281.344(4)(d)1.

1. The department may approve a proposal under para. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which para. (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 § 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 § 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(d)2.

2. The department may approve a proposal under para. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in or expansion of an intrabasin transfer to which para. (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 para. (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 para. (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 § 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(d)3.

3. The department may approve a proposal under para. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which para. (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)(e)

(e) Straddling counties.

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 § 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.

281.344(4)(e)1.

1. The department may approve a proposal under para. (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