A group of mayors from Canada and the U.S. have requested a hearing to challenge a recent decision allowing an American city to draw water from the Great Lakes.
The request from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative has been put forward to a group of eight states that make up what’s known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council.
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In June, the council gave the Wisconsin city of Waukesha the green light to divert water from Lake Michigan, making it the first exception to an agreement banning diversions of water away from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is now looking to fight that decision, arguing that the Waukesha case sets a dangerous precedent.
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The group says it wants to ensure the long-term integrity of the agreement meant to protect the Great Lakes.
The group says it’s also written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama asking for “appropriate action” to stop Waukesha’s diversion of water from Lake Michigan.