Legal experts say the public trust doctrine in Michigan should be expanded to protect groundwater, but they don’t think legislators should target water bottling operations. They believe all users should be treated the same.
Great Lakes News Collaborative
Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television, The Narwhal and Michigan Public work together to report on the most pressing threats to the Great Lakes region’s water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
Water’s True Cost
As the nation prepares to pour hundreds of billions of federal dollars into rescuing water systems, the Great Lakes News Collaborative investigates the true cost of water in Michigan. Read the series.
Ready or Not
The Great Lakes region is frequently touted as one of the most climate-resilient places in the U.S., in part because of its enviable water resources. But climate change also threatens our water. The Great Lakes News Collaborative explores what it will take to prepare. Read the series.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Line 5's impact on climate change being reviewed as part of tunnel decision
The Michigan Public Service Commission included climate change impact as it considers Enbridge Energy’s request to move its Line 5 oil pipeline from the lake bed of the Mackinac Straits to a proposed tunnel under the Straits.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
A Grand Rapids lake and the consequences of Michigan’s road salt addiction
Pollution from road salt and nutrients has created a “ticking time bomb” in Church Lake. The lake’s predicament shows how the routines of modern life are quietly tainting Michigan’s waters.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan legislation would help homeowners pay for failing septic systems
There are an estimated 330,000 failing systems across Michigan, costing many thousands of dollars to repair. A measure touted as having bipartisan support would use American Rescue Plan funds to help pay the expense.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Road salt threatens Michigan lakes and rivers. Can an alternative take hold?
State officials say they’ve seen success using liquified salt on roadways, and could expand the practice to highways across Michigan. That would be good news for waterways plagued by salt pollution.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Study: Fish can recover from mercury pollution faster than thought
The results, published this week in the journal Nature, showed that mercury levels in plankton and fish fell more quickly than expected once new sources of mercury were cut off.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
$1B windfall fuels toxic cleanup of Great Lakes, but uphill battle looms
Cleaning sites like the Detroit River and Saginaw Bay is a priority for spending new funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Advocates say the money is a good start but much more is needed.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
High costs, few customers: Benton Harbor water woes loom for Michigan cities
The southwest Michigan city’s water system faces huge problems, from lead pipes and delayed maintenance to a shrinking population. Those issues could be coming to a Michigan city near you.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Rising cost of water in Michigan leads to affordability problems
A growing number of Michigan households are burdened by high water bills, report finds.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Ignore the buzz, here’s why Enbridge Line 5 won’t likely close anytime soon
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Line 5 closed a year ago, citing safety concerns. The Biden administration is now involved. But chances of an imminent shutdown appear slim. We lay out some of the hurdles.