Great Lakes in Great Lakes in DemandDemandPeter MaxwellPeter Maxwell

Renee ChristopherRenee Christopher

Section 006Section 006

““We know the value of We know the value of water when the well runs water when the well runs

dry.”dry.”

-Benjamin Franklin-Benjamin Franklin

Great Lakes FactsGreat Lakes Facts

The Great Lakes are the largest The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater resource in the world and hold freshwater resource in the world and hold approximately 20% of the world’s approximately 20% of the world’s freshwaterfreshwater

95% of the United States water supply95% of the United States water supply 6 6 quadrillion gallonsquadrillion gallons

If spread evenly across the If spread evenly across the

US it would submerge the US it would submerge the

nation in 9.5 feet of waternation in 9.5 feet of water

http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/about/michigan-map.jpeg

Great Lakes OwnershipGreat Lakes Ownership

• The Great Lakes are shared between The Great Lakes are shared between Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New New York. York.

http://www.usembassycanada.gov/content/can_usa/images/GREATLAKES2.jpg

• Nearly 730 million gallons of water are pumped from the Great Lakes on a daily basis to provide water for these areas.

World Water ShortageWorld Water Shortage Only 0.5% of the water on earth is Only 0.5% of the water on earth is

freshwaterfreshwater Consumption of water is doubling every Consumption of water is doubling every

20 years20 years twice the rate of human twice the rate of human population growthpopulation growth

Nearly two-fifths of the world currently Nearly two-fifths of the world currently face severe water shortagesface severe water shortages

More than 2.7 billion people will face More than 2.7 billion people will face severe water shortages by the year severe water shortages by the year 20252025

Worldwide 8 children die every second Worldwide 8 children die every second due to water borne illness.due to water borne illness.

Lack of water and water quality leads Lack of water and water quality leads to higher water prices which leads to to higher water prices which leads to an increase in food prices. Increased an increase in food prices. Increased food prices are a global symbol of poor food prices are a global symbol of poor sustainability. sustainability.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2943946.stm

US Water ProblemsUS Water Problems In the US many regions are In the US many regions are

looking to the Great Lakes as looking to the Great Lakes as their future water resource their future water resource as aquifers and rivers are as aquifers and rivers are depleted. depleted.

The Ogallala Aquifer in the The Ogallala Aquifer in the Southwest United States and Southwest United States and Waukesha, Wisconsin region Waukesha, Wisconsin region are two areas currently are two areas currently seeking freshwater from the seeking freshwater from the Great Lakes.Great Lakes.

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/wispol071205_story1.jpg

WaukeshaWaukesha Currently suffering from Currently suffering from

water depletion anxiety, water depletion anxiety, their water will be depleted their water will be depleted in the near future. in the near future.

Currently drilling wells Currently drilling wells deeper where water has deeper where water has high radium content.high radium content.

Radium is a naturally Radium is a naturally occurring carcinogen in occurring carcinogen in sandstone.sandstone.

Would like to build a system Would like to build a system of pipelines to bring Great of pipelines to bring Great Lakes water to their region.Lakes water to their region.

http://www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/WasteWater/Images/secondary-clarifier-2.jpg

If Waukesha was allowed to pump Great Lakes water they would be required to offer a return flow very expensive

OgallalaOgallala Agriculture accounts for 85% Agriculture accounts for 85%

of water consumption of water consumption worldwideworldwide

The aquifer is approx. The aquifer is approx. 174,000 sq. miles. It could 174,000 sq. miles. It could cover the United States in 1 cover the United States in 1 ½ feet of water½ feet of water

Withdrawal exceeds renewal Withdrawal exceeds renewal by nearly 10 times by nearly 10 times

Fastest disappearing aquifer Fastest disappearing aquifer in the world mostly due to in the world mostly due to the great amount of water the great amount of water used from agricultural used from agricultural irrigation in the plains irrigation in the plains regionsregions

http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/gccourse/issues/society/ogallala/1.gif

The Pros and ConsThe Pros and Cons

PROS: If the Great Lakes waters were PROS: If the Great Lakes waters were sold, the money would be very sold, the money would be very beneficial to government programs beneficial to government programs and taxes could potentially be lowered. and taxes could potentially be lowered. The Great Lakes have the potential to The Great Lakes have the potential to solve water scarcity problems in the solve water scarcity problems in the United States and good relationships United States and good relationships could be built between the Great could be built between the Great Lakes Basin states and other regions.Lakes Basin states and other regions.

CONS: Lower water levels!CONS: Lower water levels! Levels are already low, lower than in the Levels are already low, lower than in the

drought of the 1930’s. These levels not drought of the 1930’s. These levels not predicted for another 50 yearspredicted for another 50 years

Decrease value of “lakefront” property as Decrease value of “lakefront” property as shore recedesshore recedes

Less coastline leads to fewer habitats for Less coastline leads to fewer habitats for coastal aquatic lifecoastal aquatic life

Great Lakes shipping industry (6 billion Great Lakes shipping industry (6 billion dollars per year) would suffer.dollars per year) would suffer.

Larger ships must seek alternate routes, Larger ships must seek alternate routes, usually longer therefore requiring more fuel usually longer therefore requiring more fuel and creating more pollutionand creating more pollution

Dredging of canals costs millions of dollars Dredging of canals costs millions of dollars per yearper year

The Future of the Great The Future of the Great LakesLakes

After 4 years of trial and error, the Great After 4 years of trial and error, the Great Lakes Charter Annex is complete. Permit Lakes Charter Annex is complete. Permit now required to: Take more than 2 million now required to: Take more than 2 million gallons a day from ground or surface water, gallons a day from ground or surface water, excluding the Great Lakes themselves, take excluding the Great Lakes themselves, take more than 5 million gallons a day from the more than 5 million gallons a day from the Great Lakes, take more than 5 million Great Lakes, take more than 5 million gallons a day from the Great Lakes, take gallons a day from the Great Lakes, take more than 250,000 gallons of water a day more than 250,000 gallons of water a day for purposes of a water bottling operation. for purposes of a water bottling operation.

Water scarce regions can now apply Water scarce regions can now apply to receive permission to pump to receive permission to pump water, with very strict control.water, with very strict control.

Must have a CLEAN return flowMust have a CLEAN return flow High charges for withdrawalHigh charges for withdrawal All withdrawals must be approved by all All withdrawals must be approved by all

eight members under the Great Lakes eight members under the Great Lakes Charter AnnexCharter Annex

General costs are extremely high i.e. buying General costs are extremely high i.e. buying the water itself, construction of pipelines, the water itself, construction of pipelines, purification for return flowpurification for return flow

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