In Northeast Wisconsin, our water supplies and water quality are becoming more limited, despite our region’s water abundance. We take water for granted, when we need to conserve and protect it for future generations. Water conservation needs to become second nature to all of us.

We’ve enjoyed two major sources: surface waters (lakes and streams) and underground water. Unfortunately, both can have serious limits or drawbacks. In 1994, the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a study which found that:

“…there is a growing concern about the overall availability of good quality groundwater for municipal, industrial, agricultural and domestic use and for adequate baseflow to our lakes, streams and wetlands.”

They cited several cases around Wisconsin where wells, natural springs and valuable wetlands have gone dry; lake levels have dropped; flow has been reduced to popular trout streams and other waterways; and contamination has prevented installation of new wells.

They also noted severe water supply problems in the Fox River Valley and Northeast Wisconsin, due to dropping groundwater levels and growing contamination problems from natural minerals (such as arsenic, sulfate, iron, radium, and high acidity) which have been disturbed by drilling and pumping. These contaminants are spreading into our groundwater supplies.

Surface waters are also limited. Researchers report that current water consumption rates from the five Great Lakes exceed the ability of the lakes to replenish themselves. This water loss could be compounded by the drying effects of global warming in coming years.

Unfortunately, our water demand is continuing to grow. Studies by the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) show that water use in Wisconsin has increased steadily since 1950. Groundwater use grew from 570 to 754 million gallons per day from 1985 to 1995, and is still rising.

We all need to learn new water conservation techniques and promote better governmental policies toward this precious resource.

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