Contact: Adam Freihoefer, Water Use Section Manager
Adam.Freihoefer@wisconsin.gov or 608-514-6058
DNR Releases Its 2023 Water Withdrawal Report
Report Examines Effect Of 2023 Drought On Water Withdrawals
The DNR's 2023 Water Withdrawal Report, which details surface water and groundwater withdrawals in the state, is now available.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released its 2023 Water Withdrawal Report. The report provides an overview of water use trends over the last decade in Wisconsin, with particular attention to the impacts of the 2023 drought on water withdrawals.
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. Data revealed that:
- 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% of the average annual water use for the period of 2012–2023.
- Power plants and municipalities accounted for 81% of the total 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.
Read the full 2023 Water Withdrawal Report and visit the DNR Water Use Section’s A Decade of Wisconsin Water Withdrawals story map to learn more about the state’s water use reporting and trends.
