got water?

We do. 

In the Great Lakes region that includes the upper Midwest and parts of southern Canada, we have the largest fresh water system on earth.  Did you want to start siphoning off our water and selling it to China?  Not so fast…

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On July 9, 2008, Jennifer Granholm, governor of Michigan, signed the Great Lakes Compact.  Now that all state and provincial leaders have signed the Compact, it heads to Congress and the White House.  If federal lawmakers sign this treaty, then few people outside of the Great Lakes Basin that includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,  New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as well as Ontario and Quebec could tap into our water supply.  It will be restricted to residents and businesses located right here.  Local proponents of the treaty want to hold onto our water supply, especially as droughts are leading to worldwide water shortages.  Those who oppose the treaty say restrictions could hurt business.

As for me?  The lakefront is delightful this time of year.  I am going to fill up our water bottles from the tap and then head to the beach with my daughter.  When we come home, we will water our garden, take showers, and give our dog a bath.  We have water here on the shores of Lake Michigan.  Lot’s of it.

photo from my personal collection

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