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| 7/21/2010 4:26:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | New program honors Whitewater for water conservation efforts
A new state program recognized Whitewater Tuesday as one of Wisconsin's first Water Star communities for its exemplary water protection efforts.
The program, Water Star, was launched on Earth Day and honors cities, villages, towns and counties that have taken important steps to protect surface water and groundwater, such as strengthening stormwater controls, ensuring water quality, protecting habitats and encouraging residents to conserve water.
"Too often we complain about what isn't being done instead of celebrating the positive steps municipalities are taking," said Suzanne Wade, a University of Wisconsin-Extension basin educator and Water Star coordinator. "I'm amazed at the local wisdom that these municipal staff and elected officials have used in solving problems. Water Star is one way for them to share their good work."
The City of Whitewater has implemented strong preventative measures to ensure hazardous materials on municipal properties are properly handled and contained and to ensure development projects employ proper erosion control measures, according to Wade.
"Whitewater's Site Specific Pollution Prevention Plan, for example, ensures potential pollution-generating activities on municipal property, such as salt storage, fuel storage and handling, and equipment maintenance are closely monitored," she said.
In keeping with the plan, Whitewater's Public Works Department uses GIS mapping to document where hazardous materials are stored within its garage complex and what those materials are. Topographical mapping also identifies where the site's drainage areas are.
With respect to erosion, Whitewater requires developers and contractors to send the city erosion reports on a weekly basis and after any rainfall events that are a half inch or greater.
But, the city doesn't just rely on self-reporting to make sure construction sites are being properly managed to control erosion.
The DPW said it regularly sends erosion inspection staff to construction sites and not just in response to complaints. City inspectors also visit each construction site on a monthly basis.
Representatives from municipalities, the DNR, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and other organizations said they hoped that when the program begins to show how Wisconsin municipalities stack up, Water Star-designated municipalities will inspire other municipalities to set loftier goals.
Municipalities that have so far qualified as Water Star communities include three gold star communities - Fitchburg, Dane County and River Falls; three silver star communities - Beloit, Mukwonago and Waukesha County; and three bronze star communities- Whitewater, Darlington and Manitowoc.
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