The Great Lakes Compact effectively bans diversions of Great Lakes water to cities that are located outside of the basin, but allows exceptions for those in counties that straddle the hydrological divide between the Great Lakes and other watersheds. The city then treats that water and diverts it to the Mississippi River Basin. But its core concerns are about the way the compact states’ negotiators reached what it considers a clearly precedent-setting determination – including a transparency deficit during the review process and a contention that “the hundreds of public comments against the Application were largely ignored”.
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But after 13 years, it’s time for Waukesha to move forward and obtain the healthy water supply its citizens deserve. The city is also under a court order to come into compliance with the federal safe drinking water standard for radium. About 30 percent of the water we pump from our deep aquifer wells is water than comes from the Lake Michigan watershed, without being returned.
“We will be strong watchdogs to ensure that the Great Lakes are protected”, Caddick said. Minnesota abstained from voting.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton was among those state leaders signing off today (Tuesday) on the proposed Waukesha Diversion Project.
Minnesota did push for several amendments to the plan, along with MI.
Throughout previous negotiations, the delegates from MI and Minnesota were most vocal in their concerns that Waukesha’s application follow the spirit and structure of the Great Lakes Compact.
Amendments approved by the governors’ representatives empower the states to enforce all provisions in the agreement with Waukesha.
In an op-ed piece published over the weekend, Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly maintained that approval of the city’s request would not threaten the Great Lakes.
The compact’s creation was sparked by a 1998 proposal by a Sault Ste. That required the city of about 72,000 to get special permission under the compact, which prohibits most diversions of water across the watershed boundary.
The city plans to take more than eight million gallons a day from the lake.
On a historic 8-0 vote, Waukesha, Wis., won the water prize it sought for 13 years.
The city was seeking a new drinking water source because of concerns about radium contamination in its existing wells.
Under a current regional agreement between the states and Ontario and Quebec, diversions of water away from the Great Lakes-St.
“Somebody could bring a challenge to it, but I would think there are low odds with any kind of challenge”, he said.
Narrow or not, Ullrich said many Great Lakes mayors are concerned about the decision and will be considering their options.
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Riley says Waukesha will be drawing an infinitesimal amount of Lake Michigan water, and returning it to the lake cleaner than it was originally.
