GLIN==> IJC calls for more effort to protect groundwater

The International Joint Commission (IJC) today released a major
binational assessment
<http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/pdf/ID1637.pdf>  of the threats to
groundwater in the Great Lakes basin. 

 

Groundwater in the Great Lakes basin is similar in volume to Lake
Michigan and provides a source of drinking water for millions of basin
residents. Yet this major component of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem
receives inadequate attention in policies designed to protect Great
Lakes water quality. For example, Annex 16 of the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement, which addresses contaminated groundwater, is the
shortest annex to the Agreement. The Agreement is currently being
renegotiated by the governments of Canada and the United States. 

 

The report by the IJC's Great Lakes Science Advisory Board recommends a
range of actions by federal, state and provincial governments in the
areas of research, monitoring, regulation, enforcement and financial
support. Local governments are also encouraged to increase source-water
protection, conservation measures and requirements for on-site
wastewater treatment. In 13 appendices, the report assesses a range of
specific threats to groundwater in the basin from de-icing compounds to
confined animal feeding operations.

 

Ottawa

Bernard Beckhoff <mailto:beckhoffb at ottawa.ijc.org> 

(613) 947-1420

Washington

Frank Bevacqua <mailto:bevacquaf at washington.ijc.org> 

(202) 736-9024

 

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