Data estimating water use in Wisconsin have been generated every 5 years since 1950. The latest report on state-wide water use has been released by the U.S. Geological Survey, compiling data through 2005.
Since 1950, water use for irrigation, industrial, commercial, domestic, and livestock purposes has increased 333%. The largest daily use of water is for cooling at thermoelectric-power plants: 6,898 million gallons per day (Mgal/d). Other findings include:
Irrigation (non-domestic)
- Irrigation water use = 402 million gallons per day (Mgal/d)
- 96% is from ground-water
- 97% is used for agriculture
- 3% is used for golf courses, commercial landscaping, athletic fields, parks, cemeteries, sod farms, nurseries, orchards, evergreen farms, greenhouses, specialty edibles, and botanical gardens
- Irrigated crop land = 386,000 acres
- Portage, Waushara, and Adams counties = highest agricultural irrigation water use; these counties lead the state in the production of potatoes, corn, and vegetables (snap beans, carrots, peas, etc.)
- Primary crops irrigated (by acreage) = assorted vegetables, corn, potatoes, soybeans, alfalfa
- Most intensively irrigated crops = berries, potatoes, corn
Non-irrigation (agricultural)
- Livestock use = 73 Mgal/d; 90% from ground-water
- Clark, Grant, and Marathon counties = highest livestock water use
- Aquaculture use = 82 Mgal/d; 52% from surface-water
Industrial
- The paper-products industry is the largest industrial water user = 357 Mgal/d
More resources:
- Best management practices for aquaculture in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region
- Corn ethanol production in the Wisconsin agricultural context: energy efficiency, greenhouse gas neutrality and soil and water implications
- Estimated water withdrawals, water use, and water consumption in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin: 1950-95
- Great Lakes Compact law (2007 Wisconsin Act 227): new state water use regulations
- Regional water supply plan for Southeastern Wisconsin: newsletter
- Report to Governor Doyle, water conservation: a menu of demand side initiatives for water utilities
- Survey of water conservation and efficiency efforts: an analysis of Wisconsin water utilities
- Wisconsin municipal water use regulation: a summary of water use ordinances in Wisconsin
