Foxconn Water Request: 7 Million Gallons Per Day From Lake Mich.

RACINE, WI — Racine County officials have officially submitted a request to pump an additional 7 million gallons of water a day from Lake Michigan in order to extend water service to Mount Pleasant for use in the planned Foxconn electronics plant and surrounding developments including the I-94 corridor.

“While Foxconn will be a user of the water, this application will benefit the entire region,” said Jenny Trick, Executive Director of Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) and spokesperson for the local Foxconn project team in a prepared statement. “If approved, the diversion will support broader I-94 corridor development, creating even more Racine County jobs, patrons and residents, while protecting our area’s greatest natural resources."

County officials say the Racine Water Utility can handle the extra pumping of 7 million gallons per day, saying that a historical decline in industrial and residential water demand in the Racine area has opened up capacity to serve Foxconn.

"In 2016, Racine pumped just under an average of 17 million gallons per day (MGD) – less than a third of its authorized capacity and about half its 1995 usage levels, as Racine’s water use has decreased due to reduced industrial and residential demand. As a result, Racine can meet the projected diversion while remaining well within its existing approved capacity," Racine County officials said.

The Great Lakes Compact requires that all water that is provided must return back to Lake Michigan, minus the water that is consumed during Foxconn's anticipated manufacturing processes. Return flow to Lake Michigan will be treated by the Racine Wastewater Utility, which has the capacity to handle the anticipated flow, officials said.

The Racine application only requires the approval of the DNR and does not require review by other Great Lakes states and provinces, according to a prepared news release.

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