Waukesha’s request for lake water nearing decision

A Wisconsin city has been given the green light to draw water from the Great Lakes after eight states approved a precedent-setting request that had raised concerns in Canada and the U.S. Dayton says he agreed only after significant changes were made to the original proposal.

Waukesha, Wisc., says the groundwater wells on which it has long relied are contaminated with radium. Because it lies just outside the Great Lakes watershed, it needs permission from all the region’s states to use lake water. The move is opposed by a number of environmental groups and Great Lakes mayors.

The 2008 compact prohibits water from being sent outside the basin watershed.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday in Chicago, the Great Lakes Compact Council approved the first out-of-basin diversion of Great Lakes water under the binational Great Lakes Compact.

The governors imposed some conditions on Waukesha’s request, limiting the city’s service area and the amount of water to be withdrawn on a daily basis and imposing some additional enforcement requirements. “It’s whether it sets a strong enough bar for future communities that might look to get Great Lakes water”. So far, 20 member cities representing nearly 10 million Great Lakes and St. Lawrence citizens have committed to track and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and others are already proceeding with actions.

“There are a lot of emotions and politics surrounding this issue, but voting yes in co-operation with our Great Lakes neighbours is the best way to conserve one of our greatest natural resources”, said Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. “Local government across this region and in both the USA and Canada are calling on the governors of eight Great Lakes states to reject Waukesha’s application and protect these vital waters we cherish”.

Representatives of Great Lakes states and provinces have given preliminary approval to the Waukesha plan.