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Water & Sewer

      
   
Water Conservation Information For Utilities

Many Wisconsin communities are implementing water conservation programs to protect their water supplies and reduce costs.  Water utilities often provide the leadership and funding for these efforts, which can include toilet rebates, education and outreach, customer water audits, restrictions on lawn watering, and water rates that encourage water-efficient behavior.  Successful water conservation programs combine both demand-side and supply-side efforts.  Because each utility is unique, there is no single approach to water conservation that is appropriate for all.

Getting PSC Approval
Each Wisconsin water utility is required to implement minimum water conservation and efficiency measures, including metering all water sales, controlling losses and leaks in the distribution system, and collecting and reporting water audit information to the PSC.  These requirements can be found in Chapter PSC 185, Wis. Admin. Code. 

However, the PSC does not require water utilities to implement demand management programs.  Many utilities choose to promote voluntary water conservation efforts among their customers.  Utilities wishing to implement voluntary demand management programs such as toilet rebates must obtain PSC approval before spending funds on these efforts.  The PSC reviews the utility’s proposed water conservation programs to ensure that any expenditures are cost-effective, reasonable, and in the public interest.

A utility interested in implementing a water conservation program can request funding for conservation efforts as part of their application for a rate increase.  The utility can identify on their application the amount of conservation funding that is being requested, how the funds will be used, and whether or not the utility is interested in implementing a rate design that encourages water efficiency behavior.  In general, the PSC allows utilities to spend about one percent of total operating revenues on water conservation programs.

Click here to request an application form for a conventional water rate case.

Alternatively, a utility may submit a letter requesting that the PSC approve its water conservation programs outside of a rate case.  A utility may use existing funding for these programs, or in some cases, the Commission may allow the utility to defer program costs for recovery in a future rate case.  In either case, the PSC requires the utility to submit a water conservation plan that describes the proposed water conservation measures and demonstrates that the proposed measures are cost-effective and reasonable.

Conservation Planning Resources and Links
Successful utility water conservation programs require careful planning.  In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to reduce leaks and losses than to try to reduce customer water use through demand management programs.  Utilities should develop a water conservation plan and establish a water conservation budget before initiating a program.

Steps in planning a water conservation program

The links below provide resources to help your utility plan an effective water conservation program.

Useful Links

The PSC has developed some additional materials to assist utilities in planning or evaluating their conservation programs.

watersense3.jpg For more information about the PSC’s water conservation efforts e-mail Jeff Ripp, PSC Water Conservation Coordinator, at Jeffrey.Ripp@Wisconsin.Gov