In this report, La Follette students analyze the Public Service Commission’s current regulatory approach to reducing water loss in Wisconsin water utilities.
Summary
This report assesses the effectiveness of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin’s current regulatory approach to reduce Non-Revenue Water Loss (NRWL). NRWL is water that is pumped to a utility but subsequently lost. Under current PSC regulation, utilities that exceed a certain threshold of water loss are required to complete a water loss control plan, which includes audit software. This report finds that utilities that complete the audit software achieve reductions in NRWL. However, interviews with utility managers suggest that PSC oversight—not the water audit software—is the key driver of this reduction. This report also finds that small utilities tend to have higher rates of water loss and are not as successful in reducing it using the audit software compared with medium and large utilities. This report recommends that the PSC revise its regulatory approach by proactively identifying utilities with high NRWL on an annual basis and eliminating the requirement that utilities complete the audit software as part of their water loss control plan. It also recommends that the Wisconsin State Legislature take steps to address water loss by way of allocating funds from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to technical assistance to support small utilities in addressing NRWL and to hire a full-time employee at the PSC dedicated to water loss.
Information
- Course: Workshop in Public Affairs, PA 869, taught by Manny Teodoro, Spring 2025
- Authors: Brelynn Bille, Caroline Riordan, Mark Sier, Cameron Towne
- Client: Public Service Commission of Wisconsin