Would water conservation programs have prevented the need for Great Lakes water?

A: No. While water conservation is important in satisfying both Waukesha’s water needs and the terms of the Compact, it cannot save enough water to avoid the need for a new, sustainable water supply.

Waukesha will continue to be a leader in water conservation. It has already adopted the first daytime ban on sprinkling, the first conservation rate structure, and the first high-efficiency toilet rebate program in the state. Waukesha also remains committed to ongoing public education and outreach about both existing and expanded conservation efforts.

Continued reliance on groundwater, however, would require water and energy-intensive treatment for the removal of contaminants such as radium, total dissolved salts (TDS) and strontium from the deep aquifer, and arsenic from the shallow aquifer. The volume of water wasted would exceed the volume of water saved through conservation. Beyond that, it is not environmentally responsible.