Tracking water use and finding the most effective ways to reduce water use are the main goals of a pilot water audit to be conducted at Peninsula State Park.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is funding the audit through a new grant received from the Wisconsin Coastal Management program.
Through the project the DNR will:
- Find out where and how water is used at Peninsula State Park
- Identify options for reducing water use or improving water efficiency
- Fix leaks and retrofit water infrastructure such as toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators to high efficiency models
- Create a template for conducting water audits at other state parks
The state is reviewing water use at state parks as part of an effort to implement a water conservation program in Wisconsin.
The water audit will be conducted this spring, water infrastructure will be repaired and replaced next winter, and a follow-up audit will be conducted in the spring of 2014 to verify the water savings from the audit.
Peninsula draws more than 1 million visitors each year, the second-highest visitor rate of all the state parks in Wisconsin.
