Protecting Wisconsin's Groundwater Through Comprehensive Planning
Polk County
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 WATER USE

Water-use data were updated in January 2008 to include 2005 data. Some water-use estimates prior to 2005 have been revised since published in the U.S. Geological Survey "Water Use in Wisconsin" summary reports.

Thermoelectric and mining data are not considered in water-use tables or figures on this web site. Thermoelectric-power water use is the amount of water used in the process of generating thermoelectric power. The predominant use of water is as non-contact cooling water to condense the steam created to turn the turbines and generate electricityD1
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Polk County Estimated Total Withdrawals

 

Polk County water use by year
(millions of gallons per day)
 
1979
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Surface-water use
0.12
0.05
0.13
0.13
0.11
0.22
Groundwater use
7.84
5.30
8.39
9.47
10.11
10.69
Total water use
7.96
5.35
8.52
9.60
10.22
10.91