Our enjoyment of beach outings, picnics, or time outside often rises or falls depending on environmental conditions from pollution to excessive heat. Before you head out, you can check on relevant conditions at these websites. Stay safe and have fun out there this summer! Public beach closures: Beachguard Great Lakes Surface Water Temperatures: NOAA… Read more »
Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director Liz Kirkwood oversees FLOW’s policy, legal, technical and communications work. After working as an environmental lawyer in both the U.S. and overseas, she has returned to the nonprofit sector because she is mission-driven and passionate about protecting the Great Lakes. Read more here. What connected you to the Great Lakes: The… Read more »
During Michigan’s 2023 Drinking Water Week, May 7-13, filling knowledge gaps is a critical priority. Knowing the source of your drinking water is crucial, and so are threats to its safety and legal and environmental defenses to its contamination. One surprising fact to many is that 45% of Michigan’s population drinks water from underground sources…. Read more »
The Chemours Environmental Impact Committee (CEIC, pronounced “seek”) of White River Township, in West Michigan, has been advocating for the long-overdue cleanup of the sources of groundwater and soil contamination on the DuPont property, now owned by Chemours. This contaminated property connects with both White Lake and Lake Michigan. FLOW supports the Committee’s position that… Read more »
But much more funding is needed. American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding has now supported $140,471,648 in grants to 24 Michigan communities to address drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs. Congress approved this funding in 2021 to stimulate the economy when it was recovering from the pandemic. The funds are part of $1.9 billion in one-time… Read more »
Editor’s note: Register today! FLOW will host a webinar on Tuesday, March 21, offering legal, scientific, economic, and political perspectives on the urgent need and critical opportunity for Michigan to finally join the rest of the nation in adopting a law to protect public health and fresh water from septic pollution. The online event is… Read more »
Map: In a newly released study, every fish tested in the Huron River, which is the main drinking water source for the city of Ann Arbor, contained toxic PFAS chemicals. Credit: All photos and graphics courtesy of the Ecology Center, which will host a webinar on March 16 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the science… Read more »
Editor’s note: Members of the media are encouraged to register for the webinar. For more information, contact FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood at Liz@FLOWforWater.org or (231) 944-1568. Register today! FLOW (For Love of Water) will host a webinar—The Case for a Statewide Septic Code: Michigan Must Inspect Septic Systems to Protect Fresh Water—on Tuesday, March… Read more »
FLOW is reacting positively to the funding for water priorities unveiled in Governor Whitmer’s FY24 budget proposal.
World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on February 2, is not only an opportune time to appreciate these special ecosystems, but also to understand why we destroyed so many until recently. Michiganders especially need to know this history, and what residents of the Great Lakes State can do to write new chapters in the understanding and… Read more »
