Wisconsin's Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC)

Groundwater Summit
Breakout Session Matrix

Notes on the matrix: Groundwater management issues, needs, and potential solutions were compiled from 8 different discussion groups at the Summit and organized into a single framework. An attempt was made to reduce redundancy and clarify intent; however, no attempt was made to prioritize or develop consensus. In fact, some comments may be contradictory or unattainable. Where possible, comments have been expressed in terms of a perceived need or direction for action.

The intent of the matrix is to capture the broad and diverse viewpoints expressed by the Groundwater Summit participants. As such, the comments do not necessarily represent the views of the Groundwater Coordinating Council or its member agencies. Eventually, the matrix will be used to develop action items and strategies, along with the other components of the Summit.

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Navigating the matrix: Comments have been placed into one of seven "management tool" columns (listed across the top of the matrix):

Policy/Concepts
Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches
Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches
Education/ Communication
Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection
Planning/ Coordination
Other


Comments have been further divided into 26 "issue" categories (listed in the table below and down the left side of the matrix). It is possible to scroll through the entire matrix or click on one of the letters below to jump to a particular issue.

Other
A. Groundwater Quality; Is Current Law Working?
Groundwater standards - How well are they working?
H. Groundwater Quantity - General
Is there a need for statewide groundwater strategy?
B. "How Clean is Clean?"
Remediation and clean-up issues

C. "Chemical Soup Syndrome"
Multiple and cumulative effects

J. Water Conservation
Individual homes, businesses, communities.
R. Groundwater/ Surface Water Interactions
Impacts of withdrawals on surface waters
D. Emerging Contaminants
Total dissolved solids (TDS), radionuclides, arsenic, pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupters
K. High Capacity Wells
Location/permitting of hi-cap wells
E. Agricultural Impacts
(Nonpoint sources, pesticides, and fertilizers)
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Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
Quality Issues              
A. Groundwater Quality; Is Current Law Working? Should the 1984 Groundwater Law be revisited? Establish different model for regulatory program Provide grant money to communities to implement DNR and/or EPA rules Provide more educational information on water quality for private water supplies Collect more toxicological data for health advisories Coordinate with municipal water suppliers in setting and implementing new water quality standards  
Groundwater standards - How well are they working? Is the groundwater law already slowly being chipped away? (e.g., by Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), natural attenuation) Set Enforcement Standard where it provides a warning system Recognize economic impacts of adopting groundwater standards   Establish inventories of chemical use to determine priorities for monitoring    
  Clarify policy for applying a regulation in non-traditional sites (e.g. point of standards application for Milwaukee Deep Tunnels) Require additional standards for well construction to protect water quality     Correlate toxicity levels to detection ranges for contaminants (what levels are necessary to protect human and aquatic health at reasonable cost)    
  Balance sound policy (science-based) with public perception (e.g. low detection levels that are possible now mean higher frequency of detection but not necessarily more contamination) Enforce requirement that all agencies are to adopt groundwater standards for programs     Research innovative well construction methods for certain contaminants (e.g. arsenic and nitrates)    
  Recognize time lags between improvements in water resources and implementation of changed management practices Evaluate implications of using public drinking water standards or groundwater standards as defacto private drinking water standards.     Research on alternatives to chlorides in industry and water treatment    
  Examine and improve security for groundwater supplies Address inconsistencies between federal drinking water standards and state NR 140 groundwater standards     Need a better understanding of geochemical processes    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
B. "How Clean is Clean?" How clean does groundwater need to be? Establish better standards for clean up (remediation) sites Seek better ways to fund clean up efforts (or make more affordable) Use Clean-up Strategies success stories in educational efforts Assess what is successful (clean up strategies, natural attenuation). Need better coordination between DNR groundwater and remediation staff in closing contaminated sites  
Remediation and clean-up issues Should the issue of aquifer classification be revisited? Address issue of persistent contaminants (e.g. DNAPLs) Evaluate whether clean up of organics can be done cost effectively Communicate: Groundwater standards work well now. Evaluate clean up strategies. Are sites being cleaned up? Is groundwater quality improving?    
  Consider some degradation of the resource to solve other environmental problems. Address long term maintenance of protection systems (e.g. landfill liners) Use PECFA fund to clean up sites rather than engineering studies (better use of money) Communicate: Remediation takes a long time      
  Recognize time lags between improvements in water resources and implementation of changed management practices            
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
C. "Chemical Soup Syndrome" Synergistic & cumulative effects of pollutants are not adequately considered by current laws Revisit the synergistic effects of contaminants when setting standards     Look at cumulative effects of contaminants on human health and other organisms Address management of cumulative effects across agency lines (because each agency sets their own approach).  
Multiple and cumulative effects Recognize difficulty in developing a management strategy across contaminant types.            
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
D. Emerging Contaminants Find solutions to arsenic contamination problems Need groundwater standards for pharmaceuticals Provide assistance to small communities to meet arsenic and radium standards Communicate relative risks of different contaminants (e.g. arsenic compared to benzene). Identify existing data, perform statewide surveys on pharmaceuticals, pathogens, and natural contaminants    
Total dissolved solids (TDS), radionuclides, arsenic Address natural radioactivity in groundwater Regulate disposal of water/wastewater sludge contaminated by arsenic and radioactivity   Compare risk between manmade and naturally-occurring contaminants Research cause of increased radioactivity in the deep aquifer in SE Wisconsin    
Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupters "Is it the State’s job to protect people from natural contaminants?" Enact regulations to prevent "new" contaminants from being introduced into the water supply.     Research on "new" contaminants and preventing "new" contaminants from reaching the water supply/groundwater.    
  Address nuisance microorganisms like iron and sulfur bacteria Ensure that new standards or rules are supported by toxicological data     Need ability to detect/quantify emerging contaminants and medical conditions related to drinking water quality (e.g. many people in an area with same illness)    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
E. Agricultural Impacts How to balance current food policies (inexpensive food/profit on volume) with groundwater protection? Should nitrate in groundwater be regulated? e.g. restrictions on private wells Encourage more farmers to adopt N management Provide more information to farmers about N crediting Identify and track constituents contributing to nonpoint source pollution (N and P)    
(Nonpoint sources, pesticides, and fertilizers) Develop nitrate policy; address nitrate contamination issues Enact & enforce "laws with teeth" Require non-potato crop in affected areas Promote public health and education for rural residents Develop methods to determine source of N contamination    
  Make use of pesticide use/impacts database Address nitrate exemptions in current codes Provide cost-sharing for reducing nitrate levels Recognize that nitrate contamination is not universally viewed as a problem - perhaps related to its ubiquity Identify technology solutions for reducing nitrate pollution    
    Clarify who has authority to regulate nitrate Find relatively easy solutions such as composting potato vines to reduce N leaching. Promote the proper use of fertilizers and pesticides Monitor quality of rural water every 5 years.    
    Evaluate implications of Food Quality Protection Act on groundwater regulations Provide incentives for crop rotations to decrease nitrate levels in groundwater.   Evaluate nitrogen and phosphorus application rates - are they too high?    
          Evaluate impact of nitrate in groundwater on aquatic ecosystems.    
          Evaluate leaching over whole rotation not just one crop.    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
F. Wastewater Treatment and Land Application Does COMM 83 (onsite wastewater treatment system code) allow too much contamination? Enforce existing standards and other laws (holding tank pumping) Provide direction on "economic and technical feasibility exemptions" with regard to NR140 standards as applied to wastewater disposal.   Research on the effect of anti-bacterial soaps on septic systems    
  Address inadequate protection of sensitive areas (example Door Co.) Set effluent limitations for point source discharges to disappearing streams and other karst features     Develop a better understanding of microbial pathogens    
  Does land-applied wastewater result in pathogens finding way into groundwater?       Perform more frequent testing of private wells for bacteria and nitrate    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
G. Wellhead Protection and Source Water Assessment Encourage protection of groundwater recharge areas Expand power of municipalities to protect Source Water Protection Areas       Address issue of overlapping jurisdictions with regard to drinking water protection  
  Address the loss of undeveloped land which has attenuative properties Require regular inspection of wellhead protection/source water areas       Explore ways to protect water supply when wellhead protection areas extend outside city limits  
    Implement local to regional well prohibitions in bad water quality areas       Make sure planning commissions are aware of Source Water Assessment program designation of local "problem" areas  
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
Quantity Issues              
H. Groundwater Quantity - General Determine goals of "quantity strategy" (e.g. restoration of water level and baseflow) Is legislative or political process ready to deal with quantity regulations? Assess where money come from to pay for changes Target education for Legislators Base groundwater quantity strategy on best available science Explore collaborative approaches between industry and government Recognize that locals lack implementation structure for managing water quantity
Is there a need for statewide groundwater strategy? Is there consensus on the need to change, or can it be reached? Develop laws to address water quantity issues in Wisconsin Establish funding mechanism for groundwater quantity management Educate public to understand concepts involved and to minimize emotional aspects of issue (e.g. water use by Perrier vs. some farming operations vs. beer production) Check laws/regulations in other states (Calif., Florida, western states) to see what has and hasn't worked Use data and groundwater flow models to predict trends, communicate with community leaders, planners, regulators, citizens Recognize that groundwater levels have risen in some areas (e.g., parts of Dane Co.)
  Assess whether water quantity should be addressed comprehensively or case by case Assess whether opening up the groundwater law to add quantity would weaken it Promote incentives and cooperation efforts, not command and control Provide continuing education for professionals and industries using water Determine how mining of resource diminishes supply Compare local solutions to groundwater quantity problems vs. regional solutions. Address population growth in water-short areas
  Need for "multifaceted" approach - planning, education, laws, research, etc. in dealing with groundwater quantity problems Establish Preventive Action Limit (PAL) process for water quantity. Acknowledge economic advantages to those who do nothing if others take action (e.g., to move to surface water sources) Develop technical education program and take around state to local officials. Emphasize benefits of action - not all bad news. Research other states/nations solutions to groundwater quantity problems, including jurisdiction and legal issues Focus water quantity efforts in areas where groundwater is being depleted. Seek trust and cooperation among all the parties to solve quantity problems
  Should water quantity policies be applied to the entire aquifer or only recharge areas? Reorganize DNR along groundwater aquifer boundaries   Improve public's understanding of connection between groundwater use and groundwater recharge Collect data on water use, exportation, and wastewater discharges Address issues on a comprehensive basis rather than case by case Set clear goals for quantity strategy
  Add quantity issue to the quality strategy being used statewide. Strengthen water use reporting process to provide evidence for action     Develop statewide groundwater flow models; build on existing local and regional ones Need for "joint management" in areas with groundwater quantity problems  
  Need to prioritize limited groundwater resources       Check public sentiment regarding how much groundwater withdrawal they are willing to tolerate Make use of regional planning commissions and Smart Growth laws to address quantity management  
  Develop a mechanism/ strategy to avoid western US style water wars       Define what a groundwater quantity problem is. Need for flexible approach to deal w/groundwater quantity problems - needs to be able to work at different levels: local, regional, state, national, international; within "problemshed"  
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
I. Competing Water Uses & Water Supply Needs Need more protection of private wells from pumping by municipal wells Set targets for water use dependent on industry .   Provide education on groundwater principles - dispel the safe yield myth. Need data on current water use Use regional approach to water use Need for dispute resolution for competing groundwater users
  Assess different requirements for siting new wells vs. replacing existing ones Allocate water based on "best use" - but who will decide?   Improve public awareness of the impact of water use Determine where water supply problems exist and where they do not Prioritize among the competing demands for water Evaluate use of treated water "Should we fight fires with potable water?"
  Develop a comprehensive groundwater use strategy. Develop rules to determine how to balance the competing water needs given the scarce resources     Require all users to report water use as municipalities currently do Base water use on "first come, first serve" or equal sharing?  
  Define "consumptive use" relative to economic development. Create legal mechanism to prohibit extraction of groundwater for private water supplies in areas with a public water supply system          
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
J. Water Conservation Promote water conservation (the need to use less water & use water more wisely) Enact legislation to require water conservation Change municipal water pricing policies to encourage conservation Proactive education on water conservation. Gather information about and make use of successful water conservation strategies Target areas for water conservation (e.g. urban areas)  
Individual homes, businesses, communities. Balance use vs. conservation in a working landscape. Freeze (water use) levels at today's numbers. Provide tax incentives to large water users to encourage conservation Target hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, etc.) Measure impact conservation messages are having. Ensure internal consistency of agencies and conservation policy with respect to economic development vs. water use.  
  Foster leadership on conservation issues Enforce conservation policy on the books. Use water bills/cost to encourage water conservation at residential level Involve local Health Department in helping users learn to conserve. Determine benefits and limits of water conservation (highest and lowest attainable).    
  Need for changes in public water use to conserve water Enact regulation of industry to ensure they are not wasting water Make more funds available for water conservation efforts Increase education/ awareness of use and ways to conserve (especially important during "drought" periods) Collect information on high rate use of water (like lawn watering & other practices)    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
K. High Capacity Wells How to prioritize water withdrawal? Create legal tools to regulate high capacity pumping (e.g. farm, resort wells) It can be expensive to show no impact - can municipalities afford it?   Develop a standard to define no adverse impact    
Location/permitting of hi-cap wells Recognize that only a handful of well applications each year potentially have an adverse impact Create legislation to regulate groundwater quantity (high capacity well law without exemptions) Establish fee structure per volume used as part of permitting for high cap wells   Collect data on amount of water being pumped from high capacity wells.    
  Should the burden be on new water users to show no adverse impact? Clarify DNR policy on high-cap wells (relationship to quantity issues)     Need to understand the impact of high capacity wells on biological resources    
  Look beyond capacity problems created by individual high-capacity permit seekers. Regulate the maximum amount of groundwater that may be pumped     Perform site evaluations on high-cap wells.    
  Recognize that different users have different impacts (e.g., one may discharge to a stream another loses water as steam) Limit number of irrigation wells.          
  Evaluate agricultural practices (Overproduction of vegetables?).            
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
L. Water Rate Structures and Pricing Change municipal water pricing policies to encourage conservation Set rate structures on statewide water conservation policy/legislation Alter PSC rate structures to promote less use, but should not be uniform statewide Educate PSC and staff to appreciate the need to address water quantity issues. Research on commodification of water where appropriate Form transition plan for implementing new rate structures.  
  Reevaluate Public Service Commission (PSC) rates - (currently "Use More Pay Less" mentality). Distinguish between "Newcomers" (who benefit from excess capacity of the water supply system) and "Long Time Users" in setting rates (e.g. Newcomers could pay a special "user fee" in order for municipality to recuperate initial investment and pass savings onto long-time users) Evaluate possible fee sources- new users, new wells, abandonment fees   Measure: Who will be affected by price structure changes and how?    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
M. Groundwater Recharge Use regional or watershed approach to address problems with regional groundwater recharge Address loss of groundwater recharge areas in the state   Improve public's understanding of connection between groundwater use and groundwater recharge Study impacts of using urban runoff to increase groundwater recharge    
  Encourage protection of groundwater recharge areas       Research on recharge area needs to preserve stream baseflow    
  Develop a process for protection of headwater areas       Research on recharge strategies in deficient areas, other than rebound by not pumping    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
N. Great Lakes Withdrawal/ Interbasin Transfers Prevent loss of Great Lakes water through diversion Evaluate how International Law/Agreements may supersede State or Local laws in regards to water withdrawals     Determine statewide groundwater budget (current in-state use vs. out-of-state use and likely future trends)    
  Prevent loss of groundwater sent out of state Interbasin water transfer: restriction, prohibition or mitigation?     Investigate impacts of water exportation.    
  Use standard Great Lakes withdrawal process for other areas Make sure our laws protect groundwater from being sold as a commodity          
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
O. Efficiency of Water Systems Fix leaks (in distribution system and/or homes) to reduce losses and improve efficiency Set targets to reduce leaks. Develop a process to provide incentives for leak repairs (similar to those used in agriculture) Target municipalities, users, commercial/industrial/private Measure the relative contributions to cumulative leaks (e.g. water main leaks vs. leaks at the house/building; water main breaks, cleaning). Involve local water utility to help identify problems in losing water.  
    Measure cumulative leaks with pumping and metered numbers.   Messages: Worthwhile economically and environmentally. Find out if somebody has already done this research (WCWA/AWWA)    
        Measure success - did the message inform the audience/move them to action? Investigate technology of how to fix the leaks.    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
Quality and Quantity              
P. Groundwater Management (Quality and Quantity) Recognize differing needs of humans and environment in terms of groundwater protection Integrate groundwater quantity and quality management within one agency (DNR) Need more funding (at all levels) to deal with both water quality and quantity issues in Wisconsin Improve understanding of groundwater systems Characterize the quality and quantity concerns for Wisconsin's groundwater. Political boundaries impede collaboration in groundwater.  
  Develop a process to deal with expected and unexpected groundwater quality and quantity issues. Apply regulations and standards consistently among agencies responsible for groundwater protection. Seek creative sources of additional revenue for groundwater management (e.g., Groundwater Guardian to pay for well filling and sealing) Improve general public's understanding of groundwater encourage better decision making Improve understanding of groundwater flow, travel/lag times Examine administration of groundwater regulation and coordination among agencies  
  Avoid basing policy on just one issue only, it must be comprehensive Explore ways to resolve intergovernmental conflicts over groundwater issues statutorily Consider the economic impacts of groundwater management actions Improve method of providing private well owners and drillers with information regarding water quality and quantity. Determine value of groundwater resource relative to economic value of use - limits? Work at state, national and international levels for coordination of groundwater protection and use.  
  Invoke the precautionary principle when data is not available Address historical and cultural significance in DNR regulations (tribal considerations). Promote "Cooperative Compliance" - working with regulated community to make informed economic decisions based on science. Use groundwater models and water budgets as an effective educational tool      
  Consider equity in quality and quantity issues Clarify who should bear the burden of proof as to whether an activity causes harm to groundwater resource   Target education for local politicians and Legislators (seminars, informational packets)      
  Determine if it's better to increase groundwater quality at the expense of quantity or vice versa Enforce current codes.   Promote groundwater education through electronic media (e.g. "Into the Outdoors" TV program)      
  Recognize long-term nature of issues - areas not experiencing problems today may have problems tomorrow Build enforcement into new laws   Educate community leaders first regarding groundwater problems and possible solutions      
  Consider how groundwater protection is prioritized among other policy and financial needs     Educate the public about groundwater as a working resource - used by industry, public water systems, agriculture, etc.      
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
Q. Impacts of Withdrawals on Quality Evaluate whether over-pumping may cause irreversible changes to water quality   Optimize pumping to reduce TDS and radioactivity in groundwater   Study geochemical changes (hydraulic connection and mixing between aquifer units) as result of major cones of depression statewide Explore use of small cluster wells to provide communities with water rather than deep wells with poor water quality  
          Need more study on impacts of mining withdrawals Balance quality needs vs. quantity needs.  
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
R. Groundwater/ Surface Water Interactions Manage groundwater and surface water together (DNR structural changes?) Include interconnectedness of surface water and groundwater in groundwater law (purpose section). Consider cost of moving wells to preserve quantity for streams, springs. Draw connections between groundwater quantity issues and ecological effects. Increase funding for research on groundwater/ surface water interactions    
Impacts of withdrawals on surface waters Use surface water to take pressure off aquifers Establish regulations to protect wetlands and wildlife habitat from groundwater withdrawals   Demonstrate interrelated nature of surface and groundwater Develop ways to estimate the quantity of water that can be withdrawn without impacts on environment    
  How can society's water needs be met without adverse impacts on surface waters that provide quality of life?       Research on aquatic habitat issues - groundwater inputs to cold water trout streams    
          Research how infiltration prevents thermal contamination of surface water    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
S. Land Use and Development Address conflict between new development and protection of recharge areas and water quality Require permits for private well installation as part of land use planning Promote use of "conservation" subdivisions (clustered homes w/greenspace between clusters) Use "lack of planning" case studies as educational tools Develop tools to help local communities protect their water supplies via Smart Growth Take advantage of the opportunity provided by Smart Growth to address groundwater protection  
Smart Growth Address water supply needs and availability as part of economic and land development (often overlooked) Consider community growth restrictions to protect groundwater (example Boulder, CO green belt) - although this could contribute to increased urban sprawl Create incentives for compliance with (advisory) land use plans Educate local planning committees and water utilities about water supply provisions of Smart Growth plans Require hydrology (groundwater & surface water) studies of impacts of new development Recognize limits to Smart Growth planning (limited to local areas; incompatibility of plans in dealing with regional problems; differing regulations along jurisdictional borders; "long" time (10 yr) for implementation)  
  Recognize that land use patterns must change if start using shallow aquifers for water supply Create legal mechanism to prohibit extraction of groundwater for private water supplies in areas where development density is high     Document the effects of urban sprawl and rural development on groundwater Make compliance with land use plans compulsory  
  Reduce runoff and soil erosion. Soil conservation practices will address quality and quantity issues. Require a public water supply system for intense development (certain threshold)- make this a condition of new development     Research on the loss of groundwater recharge areas in the state Give planning commissions authority over sewer extensions  
  Address the loss of undeveloped land which has attenuative properties Adopt zoning to protect land from development, urban sprawl and highway related contamination       Minimize unsound land use such as subdivisions outside city service areas.  
  Improve forestry practices to address quality and quantity issues (e.g. trees spaced out or preventing removal from watersheds). Ensure legislation is fair to developers          
  Achieve balance between land use for farming or preservation and development            
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
T. Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Consider using ASR to balance seasonal variation in surface water resources. Should injection well prohibition be sustained?     Need ASR studies, legal and geochemical implications    
  Aquifer storage may improve quantity but compromise quality.       Need more research on ASR before it should be allowed in WI    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
U. Water Reuse and Recycling Use recycled wastewater to recharge groundwater for both domestic and community use. Review wastewater disposal and treatment rules to allow for recycling Encourage use of recycled water with incentives   Compile best management practices for companies practicing re-use of recycled water.    
               
Issue Category Policy/Concepts Regulatory/ Legislative Approaches Incentives/ Investment/ Voluntary Approaches Education/ Communication Research/ Monitoring/ Data Collection Planning/ Coordination Other
Other