4.6 Billion Tons of Raw Sewerage
Dumped Into Lake Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 2, 2004) - The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) dumped 4.6 billion gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan during the month of May. This is the most sewage dumped in the course of a year since 1993, when the deep tunnel system became operational.
Consequently, Menomonee Falls Representative F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville), sent a letter last week to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Leavitt, and Governor Bob Taft, Chairman of the newly created Great Lakes Interagency Task Force.
Last summer, beaches in Southeastern Wisconsin were closed or placed under advisory hundreds of times between Memorial Day and Labor Day, affecting the well-being of Wisconsin families and the numerous businesses involved in the tourism industry.
The letter expresses the Congressmen's grave concerns about the effect of dumping raw sewage into Lake Michigan. According to the Congressmen, "Lake Michigan is a resource for all of us here in Wisconsin, and it is imperative that we take measures to ensure that it remains that way."
The letter also asks the Task Force and the EPA to conduct a study to determine whether a correlation exists between the dumping of raw sewage into Lake Michigan and the lake's beach closings.
"As we head into the summer months, adults and children alike will want to take advantage of their vacations and the warm weather by going to the beaches and swimming in Lake Michigan," said Sensenbrenner. "But sewer overflows, and dumping of raw sewage by MMSD into Lake Michigan will seriously hamper these activities, particularly if they result in beach closures. I hope the EPA and Task Force will seriously look at the district's activities and determine what actions need to be taken to stop this practice."
"The raw sewage dumping that has been occurring is inexcusable," Ryan said. "Wisconsin taxpayers paid for the deep tunnel system, and we need accountability. Taxpayers and all residents deserve better performance than this. Wisconsin residents and tourists should be able to enjoy the lake and its beaches without worrying about whether the water is safe and clean."
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