While the Great Lakes Compact protects this magnificent international treasure, it fails to apply the Public Trust doctrine affirming that water belongs to the people and not to corporations; that is, water is a public resource that must be managed by the state governments in trust for the benefit of citizens. Publicly owned natural resources are essential to meet the basic needs of all citizens and communities, regardless of economic status!

Further, the Compact contains dangerous exceptions that allow bottling water for profit and establish a precedent that water can be grabbed by profit-hungry corporations. It can be argued by those wanting to exploit the Great Lakes that its waters can be converted into a "product,” exempted from the ban on diversions and falling within the claws of international trade laws. Act now to ensure the following conditions to the Compact:   

- Delete the "product" exception to the definition of "diversion" in the diversion ban.
- Delete the bottled water provision! Bottling Great Lakes water must be banned unless it is in the public interest, without harm, and for fair consideration to the public.
- All water should be protected by the public trust doctrine! Great
Lakes waters must not be subjected to private ownership. Reasonable use of a public water resource is allowable - privatization is not.

Join Food & Water Watch as we fight for clean, affordable, and public water as a human right! If you take action today, we will continue to keep you updated on this and other issues that impact the right to water.