Water Use Rules
To implement the Great Lakes Compact and associated statewide water use regulations, the department must draft administrative rules in several areas. The following rules are in various stages of development. Under each rule heading you will find information on the rule, the current status, and department contact information.
NR 852 Water Conservation, NR 856 Registration and Reporting, and NR 850 Fees
CURRENT STATUS - Final Rules effective January 1, 2011
- NR 852 - Water Conservation and Water Use Efficiency [exit DNR] – The rule clarifies and further defines requirements for water conservation and water use efficiency for water withdrawals within the Great Lakes Basin, diversions of water from the Great Lakes Basin, and water withdrawals statewide with high (>2 million gallons per day) water loss. Water Conservation and Efficiency Factsheet [PDF 141KB]
- NR 856 - Water Use Registration and Reporting [exit DNR] – The rule provides specific processes and methods for measuring, registering, and reporting withdrawals and diversions from the Great Lakes Basin. Water Use Registration and Reporting Factsheet [PDF 105KB]
- NR 850 - Water Use Fees [exit DNR] – State statute sets a base fee of $125 annually for anyone with a water supply system (e.g. well or surface water withdrawal) with the capacity to withdraw an average of 100,000 gallons per day in any 30–day period. The rule implements an additional Great Lakes basin–specific fee on persons who withdraw more than 50 million gallons of water per year. Note: As a result of the Senate Hearing the DNR amended this rule to include a small business fee cap. Water Use Fees Factsheet [PDF 130KB]
Contact Kay McConnell or Steve Elmore with questions on these rules.
NR 860 Water Use Permitting
CURRENT STATUS - Final Rule effective October 1, 2011
Large water withdrawers in the Great Lakes basin, including public water systems, are required to have a general or individual permit (depending on the amount of their withdrawal) by December 2011. This rule, NR 860 [exit DNR] , establishes the procedures and standards for the water use permitting program. Water Use Permitting Factsheet [PDF 203KB]
Contact Kay McConnell or Steve Elmore with questions regarding this rule.
NR 854 Water Supply Service Area Plans
CURRENT STATUS - Incorporating Public Comment into Final Rule
Public water systems that serve a population of 10,000 or more and withdraw water are required to develop a water supply service area plan by 2025. In some situations a plan will be required sooner if the system is in the Great Lakes basin and interested in increasing its withdrawal, or if the system is seeking a diversion of Great Lakes water. This rule will specify the procedures and requirements for these plans. Water Supply Service Area Planning Factsheet [PDF 47KB]
The DNR issued a public notice of hearings on the proposed rules, and held hearings Dec. 14th & 15th, 2010.
The proposed rule and supporting documents can be found on the State of Wisconsin Administrative Rules Water Supply Service Area Plans [exit DNR] webpage.
Contact Kay McConnell with questions regarding this rule.
Additional Administrative Rules
CURRENT STATUS - Drafting
- Water Use Public Participation – This rule will establish the requirements for public participation for proposals for diversions of water out of the Great Lakes basin.
- Water Loss and Consumptive Use – This rule will establish the methods for determining the amount of water loss from different consumptive uses.
These rule drafts are expected to be available for public comment in winter 2012. Check back at this webpage or sign up for GovDelivery for notification regarding these rules.
Contact Steve Elmore with questions on these rules.
For more information on this topic please contact:
Shaili Pfeiffer
Water Use Section
Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707–7921
Phone number: (608) 267–7630
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