281.346(1)(r)
(r) "Source watershed" means the watershed from which a withdrawal originates. If water is withdrawn directly from a Great Lake or from the St. Lawrence River, then the source watershed is the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, respectively. If water is withdrawn from the watershed of a stream that is a direct tributary to a Great Lake or a direct tributary to the St. Lawrence River, then the source watershed is the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, respectively.
281.346(1)(t)
(t) "Straddling community" means any city, village, or town that, based on its boundary existing as of the compact's effective date, is partly within the Great Lakes basin or partly within the watersheds of 2 of the Great Lakes and that is wholly within any county that lies partly or completely within the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(1)(tm)
(tm) "Straddling county" means a county that lies partly within the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(1)(u)
(u) "Technical review" means a thorough analysis and evaluation conducted to determine whether a proposal that is subject to regional review under this section meets the criteria for approval under
sub. (4),
(5), or
(6).
281.346(1)(w)
(w) "Water dependent natural resources" means the interacting components of land, water, and living organisms affected by the waters of the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(1)(wm)
(wm) "Water loss" means the amount of water that is withheld from or not returned to the basin from which it is withdrawn as a result of a diversion or consumptive use or both.
281.346(1)(wp)
(wp) "Water supply system," when not preceded by "public," means one of the following:
281.346(1)(wp)1.
1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., the equipment handling water from the point of intake of the water to the first point at which the water is used.
281.346(1)(wp)2.
2. For a system for providing a public water supply, the equipment from the point of intake of the water to the first point at which the water is distributed.
281.346(1)(x)
(x) "Waters of the Great Lakes basin" means the Great Lakes and all streams, rivers, lakes, connecting channels, and other bodies of water, including tributary groundwater, within the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(1)(y)
(y) "Withdraw" means to take water from surface water or groundwater.
281.346(1)(z)
(z) "Withdrawal" means the taking of water from surface water or groundwater, including the taking of surface water or groundwater for the purpose of bottling the water.
281.346(1)(zm)
(zm) "Without adequate supplies of potable water" means lacking a water supply that is economically and environmentally sustainable in the long term to meet reasonable demands for a water supply in the quantity and quality that complies with applicable drinking water standards, is protective of public health, is available at a reasonable cost, and does not have adverse environmental impacts greater than those likely to result from the proposed new or increased diversion.
281.346(2)
(2) Determinations concerning applicability of requirements. 281.346(2)(a)(a)
Use of surface water divide. For the purposes of this section, the surface water divide is used to determine whether a withdrawal or transfer of surface water or groundwater is from the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(2)(b)
(b)
Diversions and withdrawals from more than one source. For the purposes of this section, the diversion or withdrawal of water from more than one source within the Great Lakes basin to supply a single facility or public water supply system is considered one diversion or withdrawal.
281.346(2)(c)
(c)
Water loss. The department shall promulgate rules for determining the amount of water loss from consumptive uses.
281.346(2)(d)
(d)
County boundaries. For the purposes of
sub. (1) (d),
(t), and
(tm), a county's boundaries as of December 13, 2005, shall be used to determine whether a county lies partly within the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(2)(e)1g.1g. The baseline for a withdrawal that before December 8, 2008, averaged 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period but to which
subd. 1m. does not apply is the amount determined under
sub. (4e).
281.346(2)(e)1m.
1m. If a person making a withdrawal that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period registered the withdrawal under
s. 281.344 (3) (a) 1. and reported as required under
s. 281.344 (3) (e) and the department did not automatically issue a notice of coverage under
s. 281.344 (4s) (c) or an individual permit under
s. 281.344 (5) (c) for the withdrawal, the baseline for the withdrawal is the amount determined under
s. 281.344 (5m) for the withdrawal or, if the department determines a different amount under
sub. (4e), the amount determined under
sub. (4e).
281.346(2)(e)2.
2. The baseline water loss for a consumptive use for which the department has specified an authorized base level of water loss under
s. 281.35 (6) (a) 2. is the amount of that authorized base level on the compact's effective date.
281.346(2)(e)4.
4. The baseline volume for a diversion for which the department has issued an approval under
s. 281.344 (3m) or
(4) before the compact's effective date is the interbasin transfer amount specified in the approval on the compact's effective date.
281.346(2)(e)6.
6. The department shall provide a list of the baseline volumes determined under this paragraph to the Great Lakes council and the regional body no later than 12 months after the compact's effective date.
281.346(2)(em)
(em)
Change of ownership. Regional review or Great Lakes council approval is not required when there is a change of ownership of a water supply system that withdraws, diverts, or consumptively uses waters of the Great Lakes basin unless the new owner proposes a change that is otherwise subject to regional review or Great Lakes council approval.
281.346(2)(f)
(f)
Hydrologic units. The Lake Michigan and Lake Huron watershed shall be considered to be a single hydrologic unit and watershed.
281.346(2)(g)
(g)
Public trust doctrine. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to change the application of the public trust doctrine under
article IX, section 1, of the Wisconsin Constitution or to create any new public trust rights.
281.346(3)
(3) Statewide registration and reporting. 281.346(3)(a)1.1. Any person who proposes to begin a withdrawal from the waters of the state using a water supply system that will have the capacity to withdraw an average of 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, to increase the capacity of a water supply system so that it will have the capacity to withdraw an average of 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period, or to begin a diversion shall register the withdrawal or diversion with the department.
281.346(3)(a)2.
2. Any person who, on July 1, 2009, has a water supply system with the capacity to make a withdrawal from the waters of this state averaging 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period and who has not registered the withdrawal under
s. 281.344 (3) (a) shall register the withdrawal with the department.
281.346(3)(b)
(b) A person to whom
par. (a) applies shall register on a form prescribed by the department and provide all of the following information:
281.346(3)(b)1.
1. The name and address of the registrant and the date of registration.
281.346(3)(b)2.
2. The locations and sources of the withdrawal or diversion.
281.346(3)(b)3.
3. The daily capacity of the withdrawal or diversion and the daily capacity to withdraw or divert from each source.
281.346(3)(b)4.
4. An estimate of the volume of the withdrawal or diversion in terms of gallons per day average in any 30-day period.
281.346(3)(cm)
(cm) The department may consider domestic security concerns when determining whether information regarding locations of withdrawals and diversions contained in the registry under
par. (c) may be released to the public.
281.346(3)(e)1.1. Each person who makes a withdrawal from the waters of the state that averages 100,000 gallons per day or more in any 30-day period or diverts any amount and who has registered the withdrawal or diversion under
par. (a) or
s. 281.344 (3) (a) shall annually report to the department the monthly volumes of withdrawal, whether the person withdraws at least 1,000,000 gallons per day for 30 consecutive days, and, if applicable, the volumes of diversion and, subject to
par. (em), water loss from consumptive use.
281.346(3)(e)2.
2. In addition to the information required under
subd. 1., the department may, by rule, create different reporting frequencies or require additional information from a person who registers a withdrawal, or diversion under
par. (a) or
s. 281.344 (3) (a) based upon the type or category of water use.
281.346(3)(em)
(em) If a person to whom
par. (e) 1. applies provides any of the water that the person withdraws to a public water supply system, the person who operates the public water supply system, rather than the person who withdraws the water, shall annually report to the department the volume of water loss from the consumptive use of the water provided to the public water supply system.
281.346(3)(f)
(f) The department may require additional information under
par. (b) 10. or
(e) 2. only if the information is related to the purposes of the compact.
281.346(4)(a)(a)
Prohibition. Beginning on the compact's effective date, no person may begin a diversion, except as authorized under
par. (c),
(d), or
(e) or an approval issued under
s. 281.344 (4), and no person may increase the amount of a diversion over the diversion amount specified in an approval under this subsection or over the interbasin transfer amount specified in an approval issued under
s. 281.344 (3m) or
(4), except as authorized under
par. (c),
(d), or
(e).
281.346(4)(b)1.1. A person who proposes to begin a diversion or to increase the amount of a diversion under
par. (c),
(d), or
(e) shall apply to the department for approval.
281.346(4)(b)2.
2. A person may apply under
subd. 1. for approval of a new or increased diversion under
par. (c) or
(e) only if the person operates a public water supply system that receives or would receive water from the new or increased diversion.
281.346(4)(b)3.
3. Operators of 2 or more public water supply systems may submit a joint application under
subd. 1. for a new or increased diversion under
par. (c) or
(e).
281.346(4)(b)4.
4. A person who applies under
subd. 1. shall provide information about the potential impacts of the diversion on the waters of the Great Lakes basin and water dependent natural resources and any other information required by the department by rule.
281.346(4)(b)4m.
4m. If a person who applies under
subd. 1. will not directly withdraw the water proposed to be diverted, the person shall identify any entities that may withdraw the water and provide evidence of support from each of those entities in the form of a letter or resolution.
281.346(4)(b)4p.
4p. If the person who applies under
subd. 1. will not directly return the water to the Great Lakes basin, the person shall identify any entities that may return the water and provide evidence of support from each of those entities in the form of a letter or resolution.
281.346(4)(b)4s.
4s. If the proposal for which a person applies under
subd. 1. is subject to the exception standard under
par. (f), the person shall provide documentation of how the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the receiving water under
par. (f) 3. will be protected and sustained as required under
ss. 30.12,
281.15, and
283.31, considering the state of the receiving water before the proposal is implemented and considering potential adverse impacts due to changes in temperature and nutrient loadings. If the receiving water is a surface water body that is tributary to one of the Great Lakes, the person shall include a description of the flow of the receiving water before the proposal is implemented, considering both low and high flow conditions.
281.346(4)(b)5.
5. If the proposal for which a person applies under
subd. 1. is subject to the exception standard under
par. (f), the person shall provide an assessment of the individual impacts of the proposal for the purposes of
par. (f) 5. The person may also include a cumulative impact assessment.
281.346(4)(bg)1.1. The department shall determine whether a proposal under
par. (b) is subject to
par. (c) or
(e) as follows:
281.346(4)(bg)1.a.
a. If the proposal is to provide a public water supply within a single city, village, or town, the proposal is subject to
par. (c) or
(e) based on the boundaries of that city, village, or town.
281.346(4)(bg)1.b.
b. If the proposal is to provide a public water supply within more than one city, village, or town, any portion of the proposal that provides a public water supply within a straddling community is subject to
par. (c) and any portion of the proposal that provides a public water supply within a community described in
par. (e) 1. (intro.) is subject to
par. (e).
281.346(4)(bg)2.
2. For the purposes of applying the requirements in
pars. (c),
(e), and
(f) to a proposal under
par. (b), the department shall use, as appropriate, the current or planned service area of the public water supply system receiving water under the proposal. The planned service area is the service area of the system at the end of any planning period authorized by the department in the approved water supply service area plan under
s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.
281.346(4)(c)
(c)
Straddling communities. The department may approve a proposal under
par. (b) to begin a diversion, or to increase the amount of a diversion, to an area within a straddling community but outside the Great Lakes basin or outside the source watershed if the water diverted will be used solely for public water supply purposes in the straddling community and all of the following apply:
281.346(4)(c)1.
1. An amount of water equal to the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin, less an allowance for consumptive use, will be returned to the source watershed.
281.346(4)(c)2.
2. No surface water or groundwater from outside the source watershed will be returned to the source watershed unless all of the following apply:
281.346(4)(c)2.a.
a. The returned water will be from a water supply or wastewater treatment system that combines water from inside and outside the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(4)(c)2.b.
b. The returned water will be treated to meet applicable permit requirements under
s. 283.31 and to prevent the introduction of invasive species into the Great Lakes basin.
281.346(4)(c)2.c.
c. The proposal maximizes the amount of water withdrawn from the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed and minimizes the amount of water from outside the Great Lakes basin that will be returned to the source watershed.
281.346(4)(c)2m.
2m. The proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under
s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.
281.346(4)(c)3.
3. If the proposal would result from a new withdrawal or an increase in a withdrawal that would average 100,000 gallons or more per day in any 90-day period, the proposal meets the exception standard under
par. (f).
281.346(4)(c)4.
4. If the proposal would result in a new water loss or an increase in a water loss from consumptive use that would average 5,000,000 gallons or more per day in any 90-day period, all of the following apply:
281.346(4)(c)4.d.
d. The department considers the regional declaration of finding in determining whether to approve the proposal.
281.346(4)(d)1.1. The department may approve a proposal under
par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which
par. (c) does not apply that would average less than 100,000 gallons per day in every 90-day period, if the proposal meets the applicable requirements under
s. 30.18,
281.34, or
281.41 or, if those sections do not apply, any requirements specified by the department by rule and, if the water will be used for public water supply purposes, the proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under
s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.
281.346(4)(d)2.
2. The department may approve a proposal under
par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which
par. (c) does not apply that would average more than 100,000 gallons per day in any 90-day period with a new water loss or an increase in water loss that would average less than 5,000,000 gallons per day in every 90-day period, if all of the following apply:
281.346(4)(d)2.a.
a. The proposal meets the exception standard under
par. (f), except that the water may be returned to a watershed within the Great Lakes basin other than the source watershed and
par. (f) 3m. does not apply.
281.346(4)(d)2.b.
b. The applicant demonstrates that there is no feasible, cost-effective, and environmentally sound water supply alternative within the watershed to which the water will be transferred, including conservation of existing water supplies as determined under
par. (g).
281.346(4)(d)2.c.
c. If the water will be used for public water supply purposes, the proposal is consistent with an approved water supply service area plan under
s. 281.348 that covers the public water supply system.
281.346(4)(d)2.d.
d. The department provides notice of the proposal to the other parties.
281.346(4)(d)3.
3. The department may approve a proposal under
par. (b) for a new intrabasin transfer or an increase in an intrabasin transfer to which
par. (c) does not apply with a new water loss or an increase in water loss that would average 5,000,000 gallons per day or more in any 90-day period, if all of the following apply:
