Kiera Jefferson
Lake Michigan, the third-largest of the Great Lakes, has been a depository for Milwaukee's water waste since the city's founding. The lake has historically supported a diverse ecosystem and provided a source of drinking water for the city. However, pollution has been a significant issue, with contaminants such as human wastewater, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff compromising water quality and posing risks to human health and wildlife. The city has made efforts to address pollution, including the establishment of the Sewerage Commission in 1913 and the formation of the Milwaukee Water Council in 2009, but the lake continues to face ecological challenges due to pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of Pollution | Human wastewater, industrial discharge, microplastics, chemicals, bacteria, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), paper mills, steel mills, agricultural sources, fertilizer, pesticides, sewage, sand, oil, plastic, shoreline erosion, invasive species |
| Affected Areas | Fishing, tourism, transportation, drinking water |
| Population Affected | 8 million |
| Action Taken | The Sewerage Commission of the city of Milwaukee was established in 1913 to modernize the sewage treatment process; the treatment facility they designed went into service in 1926 and is still used today; the water filtration system went online in 1939; the city began work on a sewage system in 1869; pipes were created to lead liquid waste to a pumping station on Jones Island; McDonald's plans to recycle packaging in 100% of its restaurants by 2025; Mondelez plans to make all its packaging paper-based and sustainably sourced by 2020; the Alliance for the Great Lakes has a volunteer program called Adopt-a-beach to clean plastics off the shoreline |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial and agricultural pollution
Milwaukee's waterways have a long history of pollution, with the city's population growth and industrialisation contributing significantly to the problem. The Milwaukee River, in particular, has been described as a "currentless and yellowish murky stream, with water like oil, and an odour combined with the effluvia of a hundred sewers".
Industrial Pollution
The city's heavy industries, including tanneries, stockyards, machine shops, breweries, and manufactured gas plants, have been major sources of pollution. Industrial waste, such as oil, grease, coal tar, hide scrapings, heavy metals, PCBs, and PHAs, was often dumped directly into the rivers, leading to severe contamination. The Milwaukee Stockyards, for example, released blood, viscera, and manure into the Menomonee River, causing it to become stagnant and foul-smelling.
In addition to river pollution, industrial activities also contributed to air pollution in Milwaukee. While the city began monitoring and regulating air pollution in the 1950s, the damage to the riverways and Lake Michigan persisted into the 1970s.
Agricultural Pollution
Agricultural activities in the Great Lakes region, which includes Lake Michigan, have also contributed to water pollution. Runoff from farm fields carries excess fertiliser and manure into the lakes and their tributary waterways. This runoff contains high levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can fuel harmful algal blooms. These blooms can make water toxic to fish, wildlife, and people, and create "dead zones" where oxygen levels are too low to support aquatic life.
The lack of regulations to limit runoff pollution from agricultural lands has been identified as a significant concern. Organisations like the Alliance for the Great Lakes are advocating for mandatory measures to reduce nutrient pollution and protect water sources.
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Human waste water
Human wastewater has been a significant contributor to Lake Michigan's pollution. The lake, which is the third-largest of the Great Lakes and the fifth-largest lake globally, has faced ecological challenges due to pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species.
Milwaukee's population growth in the post-Civil War decades severely impacted the city's water quality. Citizens primarily relied on wells for drinking water and used outhouses with privy vaults for wastewater disposal. As the population expanded, the privy vaults began to contaminate the groundwater, rendering well water unsafe in most city areas. In response, Milwaukee began constructing a sewage system in 1869, but this only redirected raw sewage into the rivers, further exacerbating the pollution issue.
In the 1880s, Milwaukee attempted to address its river pollution problem by installing pumps that drew water from Lake Michigan and flushed out stagnant pollution from the rivers. Unfortunately, this effort had unintended consequences, as the flushed filth ultimately ended up in Lake Michigan, the primary source of the city's drinking water. This resulted in outbreaks of "intestinal flu" and other illnesses among those consuming the contaminated water. By 1896, an estimated 55 million gallons of sewage were being pumped into the lake daily, further degrading its water quality.
The Milwaukee River Estuary, including the rivers and harbor, has been a federally designated Area of Concern since 1987 due to environmental degradation. While the water in Milwaukee's rivers is cleaner today than in previous generations, largely due to the implementation of the Deep Tunnel system in 1993, the contamination legacy persists. The pollutants continue to endanger human health, harm aquatic life, and compromise the region's reputation as a global water hub.
To address the issue of human wastewater and other pollutants, Milwaukee has received funding and recognition through various initiatives. The city received $14.3 million from the EPA to clean up waterways after algae blooms were discovered in the 1990s and early 2000s. Additionally, Milwaukee became an "Innovating City" in the United Nations' Global Compact Cities Programme and established the Milwaukee Water Council in 2009 to address the multifaceted nature of water quality issues. These efforts reflect a commitment to improving water quality and mitigating the impact of human wastewater pollution in Lake Michigan.
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Invasive species
Lake Michigan, the third-largest of the Great Lakes, has been impacted by invasive species, which have contributed to the decline of its ecosystem. The lake has historically supported a variety of fish species, but by the early 2020s, only 68 native fish species remained out of the original 150. Invasive species, along with pollution and overfishing, have been significant factors in this decline.
One notable invasive species in Lake Michigan is the bloody red shrimp, or Hemimysis anomala. This crustacean is likely competing with and compromising native species, such as the opossum shrimp. It has been found in the stomachs of various fish species, indicating that it is a part of the food web. However, its overall impact on the ecosystem is still unknown.
Other invasive species in Lake Michigan include zebra and quagga mussels, which kill native wildlife, damage infrastructure, poison bird populations, and reduce oxygen levels in the water. Additionally, invasive carp species, such as grass carp, silver carp, black carp, and bighead carp, are closely monitored to prevent their introduction and spread due to the threat they pose to the Great Lakes basin.
Efforts are being made to address the issue of invasive species in Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem, prevent new introductions of invasive species, and control existing invasive populations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also working to fortify certain areas, such as the Brandon Lock and Dam, to block invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan.
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Sewage systems
Milwaukee's sewage system has been a source of pollution for Lake Michigan, with human wastewater and industrial discharge being key contaminants. The city's earliest efforts to manage sewage and wastewater were rudimentary and ineffective, often exacerbating the problem.
In the 1800s, Milwaukee's population growth led to increased pollution as privy vaults from outhouses began to contaminate groundwater, making well water unsafe in most areas. The city's initial response was to construct a sewage system in 1869, but this only redirected raw sewage into the rivers. By 1888, the city had installed the world's largest pump, which drew water from Lake Michigan and flushed it through underground pipes into the Milwaukee River. However, this effort also backfired as it caused pollution to accumulate in the lake, the primary source of drinking water for the city's residents.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has been instrumental in addressing sewage-related issues. Since 1994, the MMSD has captured and cleaned 98.4% to 98.6% of all water that has entered the regional sewer system. This has prevented over 37 billion US gallons of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from reaching Lake Michigan. CSOs are sewers designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe.
The MMSD operates two wastewater treatment plants: the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility and a second facility at the South Shore in Oak Creek. The Jones Island Plant was one of the first sewage treatment plants in the United States and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The South Shore facility in South Milwaukee treats over 4 million gallons of wastewater daily. This wastewater undergoes a rigorous treatment process, including fine screening, grit removal, primary settling, secondary biological treatment, final clarification, and disinfection.
Despite these improvements, Lake Michigan continues to face pollution challenges. Contaminants such as human wastewater, industrial discharge, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), microplastics, and chemicals pose significant threats to water quality. Climate change has also contributed to increased flooding, particularly in urbanized areas along the southern shoreline.
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Water quality issues
In the decades following the Civil War, Milwaukee's increasing population led to contaminated groundwater as privies began to affect the water sourced from wells. In response, the city began constructing a sewage system in 1869, but this only diverted raw sewage into the rivers, including the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic, and Menomonee rivers, which eventually flow into Lake Michigan. The city's waterways became polluted with industrial runoff, particularly from tanneries and stockyards, with blood, viscera, and manure contaminating the water.
In the 1880s, Milwaukee attempted to address river pollution by installing pumps that drew freshwater from Lake Michigan and flushed it through underground pipes into the rivers. However, this method ultimately contributed to the pollution of the lake itself, as the contaminated river water was pumped back into the lake, leading to outbreaks of waterborne illnesses. Additionally, the lake was used as a garbage dump, further degrading its water quality.
The Sewerage Commission of Milwaukee, established in 1913, aimed to modernise the sewage treatment process, and a treatment facility on Jones Island began operating in 1926. However, the damage caused to the waterways persisted, and water quality issues continued into the 1970s. It was not until the 1950s that Milwaukee County began to actively monitor and regulate air pollution.
Today, Lake Michigan continues to face water quality challenges due to multiple contaminants, including human wastewater, industrial discharge, and agricultural sources. Pollutants such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), microplastics, and bacteria from human waste pose significant risks. Climate change has also impacted the lake, causing fluctuating water levels and increased flooding in urbanised areas along its southern shoreline. Additionally, the introduction of invasive species, such as zebra mussels, has further disrupted the ecosystem and reduced oxygen levels in the water.
To address these issues, Milwaukee has received funding from the EPA to clean up waterways and has initiated programmes like the Milwaukee Water Council to address the complex political, economic, and cultural contexts of pollution. These efforts reflect a commitment to improving and sustaining the water quality of Lake Michigan and its surrounding ecosystem.
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Frequently asked questions
Lake Michigan is polluted by human wastewater, industrial discharge, and agricultural sources. Some of the most serious pollutants include mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), microplastics, and the chemicals and bacteria in human waste.
Lake Michigan is the drinking water supply in Chicago, and it also contributes to fishing, tourism, and transportation. The pollution of the lake has resulted in outbreaks of diseases such as "intestinal flu" and, in 1993, the bacterium Cryptosporidium, which sickened over 400,000 people.
There have been several attempts to reduce pollution in Lake Michigan. Companies like McDonald's and Mondelez have launched plans to recycle packaging and use more sustainable materials. The Alliance for the Great Lakes has a volunteer program called Adopt-a-beach, which encourages people to clean plastics off the shoreline. Additionally, some cities have implemented taxes on plastic bags to discourage their use.
