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Water and Sewage (Wisconsin Statutes: Chapter 281)

Country/Territory
United States of America
Territorial subdivision
Wisconsin
Document type
Legislation
Date
2019
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Water
Keyword
Basic legislation Freshwater pollution Pollution control Water quality standards Freshwater resources management Sewerage Groundwater Surface water Public health Governance Inland waters
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

This chapter of the Wisconsin Statutes concerns water and sewage. It provides that the department of natural resources shall serve as the central unit of state government to protect, maintain and improve the quality and management of the waters of the state, ground and surface, public and private. Continued pollution of the waters of the state has aroused widespread public concern. It endangers public health and threatens the general welfare. A comprehensive action program directed at all present and potential sources of water pollution whether home, farm, recreational, municipal, industrial or commercial is needed to protect human life and health, fish and aquatic life, scenic and ecological values and domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, agricultural and other uses of water. The purpose of this subchapter is to grant necessary powers and to organize a comprehensive program under a single state agency for the enhancement of the quality management and protection of all waters of the state, ground and surface, public and private. To the end that these vital purposes may be accomplished, this subchapter and all rules and orders promulgated under this subchapter shall be liberally construed in favor of the policy objectives set forth in this subchapter. In order to achieve the policy objectives of this subchapter, it is the express policy of the state to mobilize governmental effort and resources at all levels, state, federal and local, allocating such effort and resources to accomplish the greatest result for the people of the state as a whole. Because of the importance of Lakes Superior and Michigan and Green Bay as vast water resource reservoirs, water quality standards for those rivers emptying into Lakes Superior and Michigan and Green Bay shall be as high as is practicable.

Full text
English
Website
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov