Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 281.15 (2026)
Water quality standards
✓ current as of July 2026
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281.15(1)(1) The department shall promulgate rules setting standards of water quality to be applicable to the waters of the state, recognizing that different standards may be required for different waters or portions thereof. Water quality standards shall consist of the designated uses of the waters or portions thereof and the water quality criteria for those waters based upon the designated use. Water quality standards shall protect the public interest, which include the protection of the public health and welfare and the present and prospective future use of such waters for public and private water systems, propagation of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, domestic and recreational purposes and agricultural, commercial, industrial and other legitimate uses. In all cases where the potential uses of water are in conflict, water quality standards shall be interpreted to protect the general public interest.
281.15(2)(2) In adopting or revising any water quality criteria for the waters of the state or any designated portion thereof, the department shall do all of the following:
281.15(2)(a)(a) At least annually publish and provide public notice of water quality criteria to be adopted, revised or reviewed in the following year.
281.15(2)(b)(b) Consider information reasonably available to the department on the likely social, economic, energy usage and environmental costs associated with attaining the criteria and provide a description of the economic and social considerations used in the establishment of the criteria.
281.15(2)(c)(c) Establish criteria which are no more stringent than reasonably necessary to assure attainment of the designated use for the water bodies in question.
281.15(2)(d)(d) Employ reasonable statistical techniques, where appropriate, in interpreting the relevant water quality data.
281.15(2)(e)(e) Develop a technical support document which identifies the scientific data utilized, the margin of safety applied and any facts and interpretations of those data applied in deriving the water quality criteria, including the persistence, degradability and nature and effects of each substance on the designated uses, and which provides a summary of the information considered under this section.
281.15(3)(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to rules promulgated under this section by the department for any substance before November 10, 1987.
281.15(4)(4) By April 1, 1989, the department shall review, in accordance with sub. (2), and as necessary revise all water quality criteria, except those for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and ammonia, adopted under this section before November 10, 1987.
281.15(5)(5) The department shall comply with this section with respect to all water quality criteria adopted or revised after November 10, 1987.
281.15(6)(6) Every 3 years, as part of the review required by 33 USC 1313 (c) (1), the department shall review the water quality standards promulgated under this section and determine whether any existing standards should be modified or new standards should be adopted. The department shall hold a public hearing to receive information and public comment regarding water quality standards promulgated under this section. The department shall publish notice of the hearing on the department’s Internet site at least 45 days before the hearing date. The department shall submit the results of a review under this subsection to the federal environmental protection agency.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases, 2011–2013 · leading case: Andersen v. Dep't of Nat. Resources, 2011 WI 19 (Wis. 2011).
Andersen v. Dep't of Nat. Resources, 2011 WI 19 (Wis. 2011). “Significant to this case, rules promulgated under Wis. Stat. § 281.15 , which set forth water quality standards, 15 may not be reviewed under Wis.”
Rock-Koshkonong Lake Dist. v. State Dep't of Nat. Resources, 2013 WI 74 (Wis. 2013). “34 Chapter NR 103 was promulgated pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 281.15 (2)(b), which authorizes the DNR to adopt rules for wetland water quality standards.”
Rock-Koshkonong Lake Dist. v. State of Wisconsin Dep't of Nat. Resources, 2011 WI App 115 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011). “Section NR 103 was adopted pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 281.15 (2)(b), which authorizes the DNR to adopt rules setting wetland water quality standards.”
— Wis. Stat. § 281.15(1) — 1 case
Andersen v. Dep't of Nat. Resources, 2011 WI 19 (Wis. 2011). “Significant to this case, rules promulgated under Wis. Stat. § 281.15 , which set forth water quality standards, 15 may not be reviewed under Wis.”
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