For the first time since the Great Lakes Compact was passed in 2008, there has been a proposal to divert water from the Great Lakes. This exception process allows straddling communities to apply to divert water from the Great Lakes. If the DNR determines the application approvable in its final technical review, the application will be forwarded to other Great Lakes states, Quebec, and Ontario for consideration. All 8 Great Lakes States must approve the diversion in order for it to go through. If the approval is given for this diversion, it would be the first time and could give the greenlight to future proposals.
The city of Waukesha has requested to withdraw an annual average of 10.1 million gallons of water per day and a daily maximum of 16.7 million gallons per day from Lake Michigan to serve their estimated 97,400 population. This request has been made due to concerns about high levels of naturally occurring radium in their groundwater supply.
On June 25, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released a draft technical review and a draft environmental impact statement of proposed water diversion from Lake Michigan to the city of Waukesha. According to the Wisconsin DNR, Waukesha’s application appears to meet the key technical requirements for diverting water from the Great Lakes.
Water diversion is not to be taken lightly. If approved, this request could set a dangerous precedent of allowing communities located outside the Great Lakes basin to divert the lakes’ water resources. Waukesha’s request lacks adequate and meaningful consideration of alternatives to diversion, which is a concern because the Compact requires that a requesting community shows they have no reasonable water supply alternatives.
We are alarmed about the high volume of water requested (10.1 million gallons of water per day with a maximum day diversion of 16.7 million gallons per day), which is well in excess of current demand and current water use trends. Waukesha’s request includes an expansion in service area of nearly 50 percent to include portions of the city of Pewaukee to include portions of the city of Pewaukee and the townships of Waukesha, Genesee, and Delafield. These communities have not demonstrated the need for alternative water supplies, nor are they meeting other Compact provisions such as implementing meaningful water conservation programs prior to requesting a diversion.
There is serious potential to negatively impact water quality, water quantity and aquatic life from the proposed return flow of treated wastewater to Lake Michigan through the Root River. A rigorous analysis would be required to determine how much pollution could be added to these already impaired waterways to ensure that return flow does not lead to “backsliding” related to achieving goals for water quality and fish and aquatic life. In addition, we are concerned that an increase of water through the Root River may cause problems in storm and flood management.
As part of the Environmental Impact Statement Process, the DNR is inviting citizens to provide input on the draft proposal. There is an open comment period and public hearings will be held on August 17 and 18. All comments will be summarized in a section of the final environmental impact statement.
The public hearings will be held:
- August 17 in Waukesha – Presentation at 5:30 p.m., public hearing at 6:30 p.m. at Carroll University Center for Graduate Studies, Auditorium (LL14), 2140 Davidson Road (this is not the main campus location);
- August 18 in Milwaukee – Presentation 1 p.m., public hearing 2 p.m. at the Zilber School of Public Health, UW-Milwaukee (Triplex Rooms 109, 119,and 124) 1240 N 10th St.; and
- August 18 in Racine – Presentation 5:30 p.m., public hearing 6:30 p.m. at the Racine Masonic Center, 1012 Main St.
Written comments must be submitted by August 28, 2015 to the following address or email:
Ashley Hoekstra
DNR Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
DNRWaukeshaDiversionApp@wisconsin.gov
If you are concerned about water diversion from The Great Lakes, we encourage you to submit a comment or attend a hearing. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.