City committee plays water card
No sales across divide until compact is signed, committee says

Nov. 5 -- The city would decline new water sales to neighboring communities outside the Great Lakes basin until all eight states and two Canadian provinces involved ratify the Great Lakes Compact, under a resolution approved by a Common Council committee.

The resolution also would prohibit city negotiations to sell water to outside the Great Lakes basin without council approval.

"We need to push them to do better than they're doing," Ald. Michael Murphy said, referring to state legislators, who are bogged down in bickering over Compact provisions. "They are paid a considerable salary also, and they need to do their jobs. Their job is to pass this Compact."

The Compact would regulate diversions of Great Lakes water out of the basin.

Murphy sponsored the legislation along with Aldermen Michael D'Amato, Robert Bauman, Joe Dudzik and Terry Witkowski.

"Consistent and uniform standards will ensure the least amount of impact on the City’s environmental and economic health, and ensure that the Great Lakes region and its ecosystems are not irreparably damaged," according to the resolution.

Once the compact is approved by the states and Canadian provinces, "the City of Milwaukee may enter into agreements for the sale of water to neighboring communities outside the Great Lakes basin with confidence that its agreements are consistent with the health and economic vitality of the Great Lakes ecosystem," according to the resolution.