This bill requires DNR to review existing approvals for high capacity wells in
a groundwater management area after the groundwater management plan for the
area takes effect. The bill authorizes DNR to modify the approval of a high capacity
well in a groundwater management area to ensure that the well is consistent with
the groundwater management plan.
This bill also requires DNR to review existing approvals for high capacity wells
in a groundwater attention area if the county or counties in which the area is located
requested DNR to approve the plan and to apply the plan to approvals of high
capacity wells and DNR approved the plan. The bill authorizes DNR to modify the
approval of a high capacity well in such a groundwater attention area to ensure that
the well is consistent with the groundwater management plan.

Other provisions
Graywater and rainwater systems
This bill requires the Department of Commerce to promulgate rules that
establish standards for graywater and rainwater systems and that authorize the use
of graywater and rainwater within the building, or on the property surrounding the
building, from which the graywater was generated or from which the rainwater was
collected. Graywater is wastewater generated from the use of a clothes washer, sink,
shower, or bathtub.
Public Service Commission order on water conservation
This bill requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to issue an order for
encouraging water conservation by water utilities and their customers. The PSC
may impose different deadlines for compliance with the order on different classes of
water utilities, but the PSC must impose the highest priority for compliance on water
utilities located in groundwater management areas.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB844, s. 1 1Section 1. 16.968 of the statutes is repealed.
AB844, s. 2 2Section 2. 20.370 (6) (eg) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,7,63 20.370 (6) (eg) Groundwater mitigation and local assistance. All moneys
4received under s. 281.34 not appropriated under sub. (4) (cg) or (ch) for mitigation
5under s. 281.34 (8) (d) and (9) (d) and funding to local governmental units under s.
6281.34 (9) (b)
.
AB844, s. 3 7Section 3. 20.865 (2) (em) of the statutes is renumbered 20.285 (1) (et) and
8amended to read:
AB844,7,119 20.285 (1) (et) Groundwater survey and analysis. The amounts in the schedule
10for the survey and analysis of groundwater conditions and problems under ss. s.
1116.968, 36.25 (6) and 280.13 and subch. II of ch. 281.
AB844, s. 4 12Section 4. 36.25 (6) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,8,3
136.25 (6) (f) No funds may be expended from the appropriation account under
2s. 20.285 (2) (em) in a fiscal year before the state geologist and the department of
3natural resources agree on a plan for the use of the funds during that fiscal year.
AB844, s. 5 4Section 5. 145.133 of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,8,5 5145.133 Graywater systems. (1) In this section:
AB844,8,76 (a) "Graywater" means wastewater generated from the use of a clothes washer,
7sink, shower, or bathtub.
AB844,8,98 (b) "Graywater system" means a system for the collection and reuse of
9graywater.
AB844,8,1110 (c) "Rainwater system" means a system for the use of rainwater collected from
11building roofs.
AB844,8,16 12(2) The department shall promulgate rules that establish standards for the
13installation of graywater and rainwater systems. The standards shall authorize the
14use of graywater and rainwater within the building, or on the property surrounding
15the building, from which the graywater was generated or from which the rainwater
16was collected.
AB844, s. 6 17Section 6. 160.50 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 160.50 (2) (a).
AB844, s. 7 18Section 7. 160.50 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,8,2219 160.50 (2) (b) The groundwater coordinating council shall create a
20subcommittee on groundwater area review. The subcommittee shall be composed of
21individuals with technical expertise in the area of groundwater science and
22management.
AB844, s. 8 23Section 8. 196.03 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 196.03 (3) (ar) and
24amended to read:
AB844,9,6
1196.03 (3) (ar) In the case of a public water utility furnishing water, the
2commission shall include, in the determination of water rates, the cost of fluoridating
3the water in the area served by the public water utility furnishing water if the
4governing body of the city, village or town which owns or is served by the public water
5utility furnishing water authorizes the fluoridation of water by the public water
6utility furnishing water.
AB844, s. 9 7Section 9. 196.03 (3) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,9,88 196.03 (3) (ag) "Water utility" means a public utility that furnishes water.
AB844, s. 10 9Section 10. 196.03 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,9,1110 196.03 (3) (b) 1. A public water utility shall include the charges in the water
11utility bill of each customer of the public water utility in the city, village, or town.
AB844, s. 11 12Section 11. 196.03 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,9,2113 196.03 (3) (c) 1. The commission shall commence a proceeding to issue an order
14for encouraging water conservation by all water utilities and their customers. The
15order may encourage water conservation through rates, incentives, rebates, or other
16methods determined by the commission. The commission may impose different
17deadlines for compliance with the order on different classes, as determined by the
18commission, of water utilities, except that the commission shall impose the highest
19priority for compliance on water utilities located in areas designated as groundwater
20management areas under rules promulgated by the department of natural resources
21under s. 281.341 (2) (a).
AB844,9,2322 2. The commission shall issue the order required under subd. 1. no later than
23one year after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].
AB844, s. 12 24Section 12. 281.34 (1) (eg) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,9,2525 281.34 (1) (eg) "Qualifying spring" means the following:
AB844,10,2
11. Before the department submits the report under sub. (11) (b), a spring that
2results in a flow of at least one cubic foot per second at least 80 percent of the time.
AB844,10,53 2. Beginning on the day that the department submits the report under sub. (11)
4(b), a spring that results in a flow of at least 0.25 cubic foot per second and that is
5perennial, as defined under sub. (11) (c).
AB844, s. 13 6Section 13. 281.34 (1) (er) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,10,127 281.34 (1) (er) "Significant adverse environmental impact" means alteration
8of groundwater levels, groundwater discharge, surface water levels, surface water
9discharge, groundwater temperature, surface water temperature, groundwater
10chemistry, surface water chemistry, or other factors to the extent that those
11alterations cause significant degradation of environmental quality, including
12biological and ecological aspects of the affected water resource.
AB844, s. 14 13Section 14. 281.34 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,10,1614 281.34 (1) (f) "Spring" means an area of concentrated groundwater discharge
15occurring at the surface of the land that results in a flow of at least one cubic foot per
16second at least 80 percent of the time
.
AB844, s. 15 17Section 15. 281.34 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,10,1918 281.34 (4) (a) 2. A high capacity well with a water loss of more than 95 percent
19of the amount of water withdrawn or a high capacity well for a water bottling facility.
AB844, s. 16 20Section 16. 281.34 (4) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,10,2221 281.34 (4) (a) 3. A high capacity well that may have a significant adverse
22environmental impact on a qualifying spring.
AB844, s. 17 23Section 17. 281.34 (4) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,11,224 281.34 (4) (a) 4. A high capacity well that is located in a groundwater
25management area, designated under s. 281.341 (2), for which a groundwater

1management plan under s. 281.341 (3) (e) or (f) is not yet in effect when the
2application for the high capacity well is submitted.
AB844, s. 18 3Section 18. 281.34 (4) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,11,84 281.34 (4) (a) 5. A high capacity well not described in subds. 1. to 4. if the
5department receives a petition under par. (am) 2. requesting environmental review
6of the application and the information in the petition shows that construction and
7operation of the well as proposed is reasonably probable to result in significant
8adverse environmental impact to surface waters.
AB844, s. 19 9Section 19. 281.34 (4) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,11,1510 281.34 (4) (am) 1. When the department receives an application for approval
11of a high capacity well that is not described in par. (a) 1. to 4., the department shall
12post notice of the application on its Internet site and require the applicant to provide
13notice of the application to interested members of the public, except that the
14department may exempt an applicant from the requirement to provide notice if the
15department determines that the well is needed because of an emergency.
AB844,11,2216 2. Any person may file a petition with the department requesting
17environmental review of a well to which subd. 1. applies on the grounds that the well
18is reasonably probable to result in significant adverse environmental impact to
19surface waters. A person filing a petition under this subdivision shall include in the
20petition information showing that construction and operation of the well as proposed
21is reasonably probable to result in significant adverse environmental impact to
22surface waters.
AB844, s. 20 23Section 20. 281.34 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,12,624 281.34 (5) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the department determines,
25under the environmental review process in sub. (4), that an environmental impact

1report under s. 23.11 (5) must be prepared for a proposed high capacity well located
2in a groundwater protection area, the department may not approve the high capacity
3well unless it is able to include and includes in the approval conditions, which may
4include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow, and ultimate
5use, that ensure that the high capacity well does not cause significant adverse
6environmental impact.
AB844, s. 21 7Section 21. 281.34 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,12,168 281.34 (5) (c) High water loss. If the department determines, under the
9environmental review process in sub. (4), that an environmental impact report under
10s. 23.11 (5) must be prepared for a proposed high capacity well with a water loss of
11more than 95 percent of the amount of water withdrawn or for a high capacity well
12for a water bottling facility
, the department may not approve the high capacity well
13unless it is able to include and includes in the approval conditions, which may include
14conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow, and ultimate use, that
15ensure that the high capacity well does not cause significant adverse environmental
16impact.
AB844, s. 22 17Section 22. 281.34 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB844,13,218 281.34 (5) (d) Impact on a qualifying spring. 1. Except as provided in subd.
192., if the department determines, under the environmental review process in sub. (4),
20that an environmental impact report under s. 23.11 (5) must be prepared for a
21proposed high capacity well that may have a significant adverse environmental
22impact on a qualifying spring, the department may not approve the high capacity
23well unless it is able to include and includes in the approval conditions, which may
24include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow, and ultimate

1use, that ensure that the high capacity well does not cause significant adverse
2environmental impact.
AB844,13,103 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a proposed high capacity well that may have
4a significant adverse environmental impact on a qualifying spring and that is a water
5supply for a public utility engaged in supplying water to or for the public, if the
6department determines that there is no other reasonable alternative location for a
7well and is able to include and includes in the approval conditions, which may include
8conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow, and ultimate use, that
9ensure that the environmental impact of the well is balanced by the public benefit
10of the well related to public health and safety.
AB844, s. 23 11Section 23. 281.34 (5) (dc) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,13,2012 281.34 (5) (dc) High capacity wells in groundwater management area without
13management plan.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the department determines,
14under the environmental review process in sub. (4), that an environmental impact
15report under s. 23.11 (5) must be prepared for a proposed high capacity well to which
16sub. (4) (a) 4. applies, the department may not approve the high capacity well unless
17it is able to include and includes in the approval conditions, which may include
18conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow, and ultimate use, that
19ensure that the high capacity well does not cause significant adverse environmental
20impact to surface waters.
AB844,14,221 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a proposed high capacity well to which sub.
22(4) (a) 4. applies that is a water supply for a public utility engaged in supplying water
23to or for the public, if the department determines that there is no other reasonable
24alternative location for a well and is able to include and includes in the approval
25conditions, which may include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity,

1rate of flow, and ultimate use, that ensure that the environmental impact of the well
2is balanced by the public benefit of the well related to public health and safety.
AB844, s. 24 3Section 24. 281.34 (5) (de) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,14,124 281.34 (5) (de) High capacity wells reasonably probable to cause significant
5adverse environmental impact.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the department
6determines, under the environmental review process in sub. (4), that an
7environmental impact report under s. 23.11 (5) must be prepared for a proposed high
8capacity well to which sub. (4) (a) 5. applies, the department may not approve the
9high capacity well unless it is able to include and includes in the approval conditions,
10which may include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow,
11and ultimate use, that ensure that the high capacity well does not cause significant
12adverse environmental impact to surface waters.
AB844,14,1913 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a proposed high capacity well to which sub.
14(4) (a) 5. applies that is a water supply for a public utility engaged in supplying water
15to or for the public, if the department determines that there is no other reasonable
16alternative location for a well and is able to include and includes in the approval
17conditions, which may include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity,
18rate of flow, and ultimate use, that ensure that the environmental impact of the well
19is balanced by the public benefit of the well related to public health and safety.
AB844, s. 25 20Section 25. 281.34 (5) (ds) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,14,2521 281.34 (5) (ds) Groundwater management plan. 1. If a proposed high capacity
22well is in a groundwater management area designated under s. 281.341 (2) with a
23groundwater management plan under s. 281.341 (3) (e) or (f) in effect, the
24department may not approve the high capacity well unless it is consistent with that
25plan.
AB844,15,4
12. If a proposed high capacity well is in a groundwater attention area
2designated under s. 281.341 (4) with a groundwater management plan approved
3under s. 281.341 (5) (f), the department may not approve the high capacity well
4unless it is consistent with that plan.
AB844, s. 26 5Section 26. 281.34 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 281.34 (7) (a) and
6amended to read:
AB844,15,97 281.34 (7) (a) The approval of a high capacity well issued under this section or
8under s. 281.17 (1), 2001 stats., remains in effect unless the, subject to pars. (b) to
9(d).
AB844,15,13 10(b) The department modifies or rescinds the may modify or rescind an approval
11under this section or under s. 281.17 (1), 2001 stats., because the high capacity well
12or the use of the high capacity well is not in conformance with standards or conditions
13applicable to the approval of the high capacity well.
AB844, s. 27 14Section 27. 281.34 (7) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,15,1915 281.34 (7) (c) 1. After a groundwater management plan under s. 281.341 (3) (e)
16or (f) takes effect for a groundwater management area designated under s. 281.341
17(2), the department shall review approvals for high capacity wells in the
18groundwater management area that were issued under this section or under s.
19281.17 (1), 2001 stats., before the plan took effect.
AB844,15,2320 2. After conducting the review under subd. 1. for a groundwater management
21area designated under s. 281.341 (2), the department shall periodically review the
22approvals under this section or under s. 281.17 (1), 2001 stats., for high capacity
23wells in the groundwater management area.
AB844,16,324 3. The department may modify the approval under this section or under s.
25281.17 (1), 2001 stats., of a high capacity well, after a review under subd. 1. or 2., as

1necessary to ensure that the high capacity well is consistent with the groundwater
2management plan for the groundwater management area in which the high capacity
3well is located.
AB844, s. 28 4Section 28. 281.34 (7) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,16,95 281.34 (7) (d) 1. After the department approves a groundwater management
6plan under s. 281.341 (5) (f) for a groundwater attention area designated under s.
7281.341 (4), the department shall review approvals for high capacity wells in the
8groundwater attention area that were issued under this section or under s. 281.17
9(1), 2001 stats., before the plan took effect.
AB844,16,1410 2. After conducting the review under subd. 1. for a groundwater attention area
11designated under s. 281.341 (4) for which the department has approved a
12groundwater management plan under s. 281.341 (5) (f), the department shall
13periodically review the approvals under this section or under s. 281.17 (1), 2001
14stats., for high capacity wells in the groundwater attention area.
AB844,16,1915 3. The department may modify the approval under this section or under s.
16281.17 (1), 2001 stats., of a high capacity well, after a review under subd. 1. or 2., as
17necessary to ensure that the high capacity well is consistent with the groundwater
18management plan for the groundwater attention area in which the high capacity well
19is located.
AB844, s. 29 20Section 29. 281.34 (9) of the statutes is repealed.
AB844, s. 30 21Section 30. 281.34 (11) of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,16,2522 281.34 (11) Springs; inventory and rule. (a) The department shall conduct
23an inventory of large springs in this state. The department shall complete the
24inventory no later than the first day of the 37th month beginning after the effective
25date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
AB844,17,3
1(b) The department shall submit a report to the legislature, under s. 13.172 (2),
2and to the legislative reference bureau when it completes the inventory under par.
3(a).
AB844,17,54 (c) The department shall promulgate a rule defining "perennial" for the
5purposes of sub. (1) (eg) 2.
AB844, s. 31 6Section 31. 281.341 of the statutes is created to read:
AB844,17,8 7281.341 Groundwater management and attention areas. (1)
8Definitions. In this section:
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