Wisconsin Town with Bad Water Wants 10 Million Gallons a Day From Lake Michigan
Deadline looms for public comment about Wisconsin town’s proposal for new pipeline for Great Lakes water.
The water crisis in Flint is bringing to light the issues related to fresh water systems across the country, issues that are being raised as a community in Wisconsin asks to build a pipeline to Lake Michigan and divert water for its own use.
March 1 is the final day Michigan residents can file comments on the request by officials in Waukesha, Wisc. to take about 10 million gallons of water per day. Most of the water would be returned to the lake in the form of treated wastewater.
The Great Lakes Compact, which governs water diversions by eight states and two provinces, uses strict criteria for requests from communities not currently drawing water from the Great Lakes.
WDET’s Amy Miller spoke with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director of the Great Lakes Jon Allen about the request, the process and how future requests for water are expected to be handled.
Click on the audio player above to hear the entire interview.
