Livestock production has declined in the county over the past 10 years. Some continued decline is anticipated over the next 20 years, resulting in less water consumption. Domestic water use during the next 20 years in Winnebago County will probably decrease slightly due to the projected 9.4 percent population decrease, although the decrease will be partially offset by a small increase in the per-capita rate of water consumption. In Winnebago County there is no current water use for industry, mining or power production in the county. Any future change in water uses for industry, mining or power production could have a large impact on total water use in the county.
Wells supply water for many communities, farms, and industries in north-central Iowa.
The water from these wells comes from deposits of unconsolidated materials and layered rocks with characteristics consistent enough to allow fairly reliable predictions of their water-yielding potential. Rocks and sediments that store and transmit water are called aquifers. In north-central Iowa, there are three different surficial aquifer types and five bedrock aquifers available for use as sources of water supplies. The unconsolidated deposits of sediment near the land surface comprise the surficial aquifers and confining beds. Beneath these deposits are layers of consolidated sedimentary rock.