Great Lakes compact changes water distribution in Wisconsin
Liz Accola
Staff Writer
Governor Jim Doyle announced on April 9 that the much debated Great Lakes Compact will pass in an upcoming Wisconsin state legislative vote. The compact will prohibit Lake Michigan’s water from being exported outside of the Great Lakes basin while granting certain exceptions for communities, such as Waukesha and New Berlin. Both of these cities lie partially or just outside of the basin border, according to NewBerlinNow.com.
Both Waukesha and New Berlin have been struggling with radium contamination in their water wells. Under the compact, JSOnline.com reported that these cities and other qualifying communities will be allowed to use the source as long as they return treated waste water back to Lake Michigan.
The Great Lakes compact received significant support in the Wisconsin State Senate, but it struggled in the Assembly due to concern that the changes would simply weaken the current law, according to JSOnline.com The current law strictly uses the Great Lakes Basin border to define where lake waters can and cannot be used, even in the border-lying Waukesha and New Berlin, which are only allowed use of the water in parts within the border.
Additionally, JSOnline.com said the opposing members of the Assembly felt “the compact’s restrictions would be too rigid for Wisconsin’s own good” because of the single-state veto, which requires a unanimous agreement among the eight governors of Great Lakes-bordering states in order to allow an outside community to receive the water. This type of veto also exists under current law and while the compact would keep the veto, it would also allow communities that meet certain criteria to appeal their decision and, if necessary, go as far as to sue for their right to tap into the Lakes.
The Assembly finally came to an agreement without modifying or amending the compact and will soon meet to set in place the new set of rules of where Lake Michigan’s water goes.
“Our Great Lakes waters in many ways define who we are, and now the Great Lakes Compact will ensure that we protect this tremendous resource while responsibly using the water we need to prosper and grow,” Govenor Doyle said in a state press release.
Wisconsin is one of eight states and two Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes, the world’s largest system of fresh water.These states, with associate membership from Quebec and Ontario, form the Great Lakes Commission dedicated “to promote the orderly, integrated, and comprehensive development, use, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin,” according to their website GLC.org.
Of the Commission members, The Business Journal reported that Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and New York have already signed the compact into law as well as Quebec and Ontario.
Had Wisconsin tried to change the compact at all, the legislation would have had to go through the four U.S. states all over again.