Great Lakes Leaders Call for Drinking Water Protections

In light of August's drinking water catastrophe in Toledo, Ohio, Great Lakes mayors gathered this week to call for policy action to protect water resources round the Great Lakes.

1 minute read

September 25, 2014, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

A group of Great Lakes mayors and other officials gathered this week in Chicago this week to "talk about ways to protect water resources in light of a recent algae bloom in Lake Erie that wreaked havoc with the drinking water in Toledo, Ohio," reports John Byrne.

According to a release from his press office, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has this to say in reaction to the environmental threats impacting the Great Lakes: "This situation cannot and will not be tolerated as the new normal."

The press release also mentions specific policy actions supported by the mayors at the summit, including:

"USEPA to establish a common limit and an emergency response protocol for microcystin in drinking water for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region"
"Great Lakes states to establish a phosphorus open lake water quality standard"

The summit was hosted by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, founded by former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

FULL STORY: Great Lakes water protection meeting in Chicago

Wednesday, September 24, 2014 in Chicago Tribune

Environment Illinois Indiana Michigan Minnesota New York Ohio Pennsylvania Ontario Quebec Toledo Great Lakes Drinking Water Environmental Protection Freshwater Lake Erie Agriculture Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative St. Lawrence River View More

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