BREAKING: WAUKESHA WATER PLAN IS A 'YES'

WAUKESHA - The City of Waukesha's 13-year effort to obtain a Lake Michigan water supply came to a triumphant resolution Tuesday when the delegates of the eight Great Lakes governors voted unanimously in favor of it Tuesday afternoon in Chicago.

Those members included Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Waukesha had attempted to become the first U.S. community located entirely outside the Great Lakes drainage basin to receive a diversion of lake water under the Great Lakes Compact.

Waukesha sought an exemption under the 2008 Great Lakes Compact, which protects its water from being sent outside the basin according to a Journal Sentinel report.

Tuesday's ruling was long viewed as precedent-setting for other communities located outside the Great Lakes basin. The thought was that if Waukesha were allowed access to Great Lakes waters under the ruling, then other thirsty communities would have a legal opening to do so as well.

Waukesha said its water supply wasn't sustainable, partly due to radium contamination. Waukesha's plan involved returning the amount of water diverted through treated wastewater that would flow through the Root River in Racine County.

The regional group, which includes eight states and two Canadian provinces, gave preliminary approval to the City of Waukesha's proposal — if they meet certain conditions, including an average limit of 8.2 million gallons a day.

The plan had gained stiff opposition from environmental groups and area municipalities, including Racine, where treated wastewater would have made its reentry into the Lake Michigan through the Root River.

Racine Mayor John Dickert was not happy about Waukesha's plan to return about 8 million gallons of treated wastewater to the lake by sending it down the Root River through Racine.

According to NPR's report, even if the plan gains momentum amongst participating public officials, Racine Mayor John Dickert won't rule out a lawsuit to halt the plan. Dickert said he'll do everything he can to protect his city, and its river.

IMAGE CREDIT:

• Phizzy , CC BY-SA 3.0