We’re proud to report that the Janesville Municipal Water Utility received the Wisconsin Water Association’s 2011 water efficiency award. Over the last couple of years, Clean Wisconsin has worked closely with the city of Janesville to develop a conservation-based rate structure that rewards residents and businesses for conserving water.

This award confirms that this important work is helping to protect one of Wisconsin’s most valuable natural resources – our groundwater. Many places across the state have experienced the unfortunate effects that result from overusing groundwater. Clean Wisconsin is working with communities across the state to find solutions, like those in Janesville, that will help ensure groundwater remains plentiful for generations to come.

For more information on Janesville’s water program, here is an excerpt from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s Water Currents Newsletter:

Janesville utility receives 2011 water efficiency award
The Janesville Municipal Water Utility received the Wisconsin Water Association’s Water Efficiency Award for 2011. The utility has implemented inclining block water rates and offers rebates for high- efficiency toilets, showerheads, and faucets to help customers use water more efficiently. Janesville also has undertaken a system-wide leak detection and repair program to reduce the amount of water lost in its distribution system. To reduce energy use, the utility replaced constant-speed pump drives with more efficiency variable-speed drives and has modified its operating strategies to utilize its system storage to minimize on-peak pumping and demand charges. For more information about Janesville’s conservation program, visit: http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us.