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Water Usage Down In Madison For 2016

Loss Of Oscar Mayer Plant Contributing To Decrease In Water Usage

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Lawn sprinklers
Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

One of Madison’s signature companies used less water last year, contributing to the decrease in water the city used last year, a Madison Water Utility official says.

Oscar Mayer was responsible for almost half of Madison’s 1.3 percent drop in total water usage. As food production winds down pending the plant’s closure, the company is using less water. But there is a downside to the dip.

“When we look ahead to 2017 and we’re looking at the full closure of the Oscar Mayer plant and about 200 million gallons less (of water use) just from that property alone, that’s pretty significant,” said Amy Barrilleaux, public information officer for the Madison Water Utility. “That’s a drop in revenue for Madison Water Utility. So that’s something we’re going to have to look at in terms of our water rates and trying to make up that revenue.”

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The water utility will lose almost $1 million in revenue because of Oscar Mayer closing, Barrilleaux said.

Water use in Madison also went down on the residential side in 2016. One reason was the amount of rain and people didn’t have to water their lawn and garden as much.

City workers also pushed the importance of conservation and encouraged the practice.

“We spent a lot of time at Madison Water Utility talking to people about using less water outside,” Barrilleaux said. “Watering the lawn every day, watering landscaping that can really add up to big water use.”

Most of Madson’s water is for residential use. Barrilleaux said 35 percent is used in single-family homes; 21 percent in apartments and duplexes; 30 percent for industrial and commercial use; and 14 percent goes for government and university owned properties.