The Great Lakes form the largest surface freshwater system on earth. One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Lakes are a gift whose natural beauty and bounty enrich our lives and define our region -- it is our responsibility to protect them. A gift from the glaciers, the Great Lakes are a vast but largely non-renewable resource.

Everyone living within the Great Lakes drainage basin relies on the Lakes for drinking water. As many as 26 million people depend on the water withdrawn directly from the lakes, while 11 million people tap ground water as it drains into Great Lakes tributaries.

Clearly, the choices we make about how we protect the water resources in our communities affect the future of the Lakes. Increasing the number of pipelines into the Great Lakes and their associated ground water supplies without applying protective standards threatens the future health and supply of fresh water in the Great Lakes drainage basin.