The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is calling for crucial water infrastructure to be included in future economic and stimulus packages.


What You Need To Know

  • Leaders across the Great Lakes say investment in infrastructure is crucial for people post the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Cities along the Great Lakes have accrued over a half a million dollars in damage over the past year from high water levels

  • In total, The Great Lakes are a drinking water source for 40,000,000 people

  • There are also other concerns about erosion and algae along the shores

Sheboygan, Wisconsin Mayor and Chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Michael Vandersteen, said the investment is crucial for people post the COVID-19 pandemic.

In total, The Great Lakes are a drinking water source for 40,000,000 people.

"We have to put our foot forward that the cities in this region have a lot of needs to keep the water clean," Vandersteen said.

Some of those needs include water projects in sewer plants and water treatment plants to keep drinking water clean. There are also other concerns about erosion and algae along the shores because of recent high water across the Great Lakes.

"In Lake Erie we've seen a huge problem with algal bloom and that's due to the phosphorus run off from farming issues,” Vandersteen said. “That one lake is having a lot of problems, it's a shallower lake and it’s not safe to drink the water unless it’s treated.”

Cities along the Great Lakes have accrued over a half a million dollars in damage over the past year from high water levels. Vandersteen says many cities have to put off projects because of loss of revenue stemming from the pandemic.

"We need to have those projects go ahead, the great lakes - we've estimated $200 billion in the next 20 years to upgrade drinking water, waste water, and storm water infrastructure," Vandersteen added.

Vandersteen says congress is set to meet next week to begin working on the next coronavirus stimulus plan and its hopeful water infrastructure will be included.