Protecting Wisconsin's Groundwater Through Comprehensive Planning
Portage 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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Portage County Estimated Total Withdrawals

 

Portage County water use by year
(millions of gallons per day)
 
1979
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
Surface-water use
2.85
3.53
1.39
7.66
6.29
15.18
Groundwater use
40.82
36.35
47.09
76.81
77.66
116.43
Total water use
43.67
39.88
48.48
84.47
83.95
131.61