Milwaukee Riverkeeper reacts to Waukesha's proposed water diversions
November 20, 2008
Milwaukee Riverkeeper met last week with the City of Waukesha and other environmental groups to discuss details about Waukesha's proposal to divert Lake Michigan water for its drinking supply. The recently-passed Great Lakes Compact limits diversions of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin, but because Waukesha County straddles the basin boundary, the city can use Great Lakes water provided the water is returned to Lake Michigan. How the water will be returned is the issue now on the table.
Waukesha hopes to release its treated wastewater into Underwood Creek, where it will flow into the Menomonee River and finally Lake Michigan. Milwaukee Riverkeeper has strong concerns about this plan. The addition of wastewater into Underwood Creek will likely degrade water quality, as well as contribute to erosion and flooding. Increasing the flow of water in this concrete-channelized creek could cause a safety concern for surrounding neighborhoods.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is advocating that Waukesha look at other options for returning their wastewater, such as piping water back to Lake Michigan or to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) for treatment there.
