States Worried About Great Lakes Siphoning

Midwest states are working to prevent siphoning of the Great Lakes’ fresh water as officials in dry states eye those abundant waters.

Minnesota and Illinois are the only two of the eight Great Lakes states to approve legislation giving states more control over water diversion, The Detroit News said. Michigan lawmakers expect to agree to a version of the legislation by the end of January.

Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a presidential contender, has called for a national water policy and a Georgia congressman proposed putting Great Lakes water under federal control.

Such talk riles Midwesterners.

I don’t think we ought to be sending our water to anybody, Paul Sapp, a 72-year-old Mecosta, Mich., resident who said he’s seen local water levels drop due to withdrawals from the Muskegon River for a bottled water plant, told the News.

They all moved down (to the Southeast and Southwest) to stay warm, he said. If they’re thirsty, they can move back.