Sunday, July 22, 2007

Water Demand, Not Conservation, Is The Real Regional Water Story

It is true that there are some water conservation measures underway in Waukesha communities, most notably in the City of Waukesha, which will charge some large users a new premium rate.

But data released last week by SEWRPC, the regional planning commission, predicts a big jump in water demand throughout its seven-county region, especially in Waukesha County.

You don't have to be a hydrologist or a statistician to know which direction that water planning will flow in the region: just drive around and look at the subdivisions, malls, and office parks that are replacing area farms and woodlands.

All that development needs water. New supplies will help it happen, and water conservation, which is certainly a good thing, will be a footnote, even a fig-leaf, for some developers and planners.

More about this later.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is the ideology of most of my Milwaukee friends. I live in the city (and love it thank you Pete Kennedy) and feel much the same. Milwaukee and all other cities on the lakes will become a destination, provided we KEEP the asset we have in place. Mary Lazich should stop all the blockades and let the compact get signed. We must not let others ruin such a wonderful resource.

Dave said...

Agreed we must sign the compact.