About the Project

Madison Water Utility is embarking on a unique educational campaign aimed at showcasing the latest in home water conservation, efficiency and innovation. The Water Conservation House will be a modest 2-3 bedroom demonstration home that features water and energy efficient building systems and landscaping on display to the public. We will seek a whole home EPA WaterSense certification once the project is complete.

Interested in following the project and providing input? Sign up for our email list on the right side of this page.

Latest News

This project is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated preliminary home and landscaping designs from architect Engberg Anderson and Associates are here! Take a look below.

Planned Water-Saving Features

• A 500-gallon rainwater harvesting system
• Energy efficient water heating, including a drain water heat recovery system
• Irrigation overflow storage tank
• Native plants & turf, rain gardens and permeable pavement designed to keep nearly all rain water on site.
• High-efficiency, EPA WaterSense appliances and plumbing fixtures

We expect these innovations will cut per-person municipal water use by half.

Energy-Saving Features:

• 5KW solar panels
• VRF (variable refrigerant flow) heating and cooling system
• ERV (energy recovery ventilation) system
• Advanced framing techniques for a higher insulated envelope

Project Details

Madison Water Utility currently owns property at 4724 Spaanem Ave., which is the location of a municipal well and stand-pipe reservoir. The utility has divided the property into four smaller lots, three of which are residentially-sized according to area zoning requirements. The fourth lot will continue to be home to municipal Well 9 and its 3 million-gallon reservoir. Madison Water Utility plans to sell all three residential lots near Well 9 to a developer. As part of a Real Estate Development Agreement, the developer will build one of the homes as the Water Conservation House, which will be used for a period of time for conservation outreach and education.

At its 3/26/2019 meeting, the Madison Water Utility Board approved a resolution to move forward with the Water Conservation House. Construction planned to start in mid-2020.

In the meantime, you can take a look at information presented at the April, 2018 Lake Edge Neighborhood Association Meeting: Updated photos are below.

Water Conservation House initial presentation 4/11/18

Community Input

The Water Conservation House will be designed and built with neighbors, students, educators and the Madison community in mind, so public input is critical. As the project progresses, Madison Water Utility will use the project email list to share updated information, distribute surveys and gather community input.

Past Meetings/Additional Information

• April 11. 2018: Lake Edge Neighborhood Association Meeting: Water Conservation House initial presentation 4/11/18
• Certified Survey Map of the planned location
• Madison Water Utility's Land Division Application submitted to the Madison Plan Commission

• January 24, 2018 - The Madison Water Utility Board unanimously approved the concept and project plan for the Water Conservation House. The Board also approved the utility's plan to enter into an agreement with Engberg Anderson Architects to:

  1) Design the Water Conservation House and landscape to be built on Lot 3 (nearest the water tower and well facility)

  2) Create a draft Real Estate Development Agreement that accomplishes the project goals

  3) Draft an RFP (Request for Proposals) for developers to submit proposals to purchase and develop Lots 1 ,2 and 3

• August 31, 2017 - A request for proposals (RFP) submitted to solicit bids for Architect for Water Conservation House Design.
• Jan 5, 2017 - Initial Community Meeting, Pinney Library