Midwest Environmental Advocates is concerned that multiple large scale water diversion from the Great Lakes could cause long-term impacts on lands and activities in areas like Door and Kewaunee Counties.  That follows the groups' challenge of a Department of Natural Resources decision allowing the City of Racine to draw seven-million gallons of water a day for the Foxconn manufacturing facility in nearby Mount Pleasant.  The DNR says that's within the guidelines of the Great Lakes water compact. Robert Lee, an attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, says the group is concerned that using municipal utilities to provide water for large scale commercial users could lead to multiple diversions, which could lower lake levels and impact recreational use like boating and fishing.

The City of Racine request for water diversion is the third granted by the Wisconsin DNR.  Water diversions were also approved for residential drinking water for New Berlin and Waukesha.