News

LANSING – State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today threw his support behind a bold plan that will protect Great Lakes water – Michigan's most precious natural resource – from being diverted and sold for profit to other states and nations. The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan also strengthens environmental protections; requires large-scale users to adopt tougher conservation practices; and gives citizens the ability to hold companies accountable for violating water protection laws.

"In the future, water will be the new oil, and Michigan will become the envy of other thirsty states and countries," said McDowell, who sponsored a bill that strengthens protections against water bottling. "It is paramount that we protect the Great Lakes and hold accountable companies that want to sell off our most precious natural resource for profit. Our message is clear: Our water is not for sale."

The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" package:

• Ratifies the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact, which will ban diversions of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin.
• Toughens standards for companies who try to bottle up and sell off Great Lakes and Michigan water for profit.
• Strengthens water protection standards by requiring state approval for withdrawals above 1 million gallons per day, down from 2 million gallons per day.
• Requires large-scale water users such as municipalities, utilities and others to implement water conservation practices.
• Gives the public additional tools to hold companies accountable when they violate water protection laws, and increases the maximum civil fine from $1,000 to $10,000 for most water use violations.

McDowell's bill removes the bottled water exception from the state's definition of "diversion" unless the facility has a permit, reinforcing that water is not a commodity to be bought and sold.

The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan comes amid rising threats to the Great Lakes, including low water levels brought on by global warming. According to a June 12 article in the Detroit News,[1] water levels in Lake Superior are projected to reach a record low of 22 inches below average in September, while Lake Michigan and Lake Huron also could see lows of 22 inches below average. Lake Erie could reach 12 inches below average, and Lake St. Clair could reach 17 inches below average, according to the article. Low water levels force shipping companies to carry less freight per trip – a cost that is passed on to consumers.

Meanwhile, within the next 10 years, 36 states expect water shortages, according to a 2003 Government Accountability Office report. As more states and countries dry up, they will turn to the Great Lakes to replenish their supplies. Over the years, proposals to use Great Lakes water have ranged from replenishing the Ogallala Aquifer[2] on the Great Plains to sending water by tanker to Asia[3].

Grenetta Thomassey, PhD., policy director for Tip of the Mitt Water Shed Council, said, "We applaud the introduction of this water use package today.  As the only state entirely in the Great Lakes Basin, Michigan has the most to gain from the strong regulations included in this package of bills.  We look forward to building bipartisan support in the House and Senate so Michigan can continue its long standing tradition of being a leader in protecting our water resources."

McDowell also noted that the three biggest industries in Michigan – agriculture, manufacturing and tourism – depend heavily on healthy Great Lakes water.

"Michigan is defined by the Great Lakes," McDowell said. "We have an incredible responsibility to the people of Michigan to be good stewards of the largest source of fresh water on the planet. By protecting the Great Lakes, and all of Michigan's water, we are protecting what makes us special."