Water and where it goes
The 2023 Water Withdrawal Report, conducted by the DNR, which provides an overview of water use trends over the last decade, in Wisconsin, with particular attention to the impacts 2023 report.
Since the implementation of the Great Lakes Compact, Wisconsin has required water users to register and submit annual reports, on surface water and groundwater withdrawals that exceed 100,000 gallons, per day. Wisconsin’s 2023 report features the compilation of data reported to the DNR, with data revealing the following:
• The largest water withdrawals were used for power production, municipal water supply and growing crops.
• Over the past decade, Wisconsin cities, agricultural operations, businesses and industries, withdrew 1.9 trillion gallons, per year, on average – enough to cover Wisconsin in 1.6 inches of water!
• In 2023, withdrawals totaled 1.8 trillion gallons, from over 14,000 sources, within 1 percent of the average annual water use for the period of 2012–23.
• Power plants and municipalities accounted for 81 percent of water withdrawals.
While water use across Wisconsin, was near average, the severe drought conditions during the 2023 growing season, led to agricultural water withdrawals reaching their highest level since water use reporting began in 2011. Water withdrawals vary throughout the year, as monthly trends in water use are often related to monthly temperatures, the growing season and precipitation patterns.
Water use commonly peaks in the summer, coinciding with the highest energy demand, as power plants need more water for cooling and irrigators supplement rainfall to support crop growth. However, the warm and dry conditions of 2023, led to earlier and extended irrigation periods, exceeding those of previous years.
“The drought conditions we experienced in 2023, highlight the importance of long-term monitoring of water use and water levels, to ensure the sustainability of our water resources,” said Adam Freihoefer, DNR’s Water Use Section manager.
To read the full report, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov.
