Great Lakes Forever c/o Biodiversity Project 4507 N Ravenswood #106 Chicago, IL 60640 773-496-4020 phone 773-906-1303 fax project@biodiverse.org   Intro :: Water Quality :: Water Supply :: Habitat Protection :: Invasives The Great Lakes contains approximately 6 quadrillion gallons of water. Yes. 6 quadrillion! Because these Sweetwater Seas are so enormous, it is easy for us to not realize that our daily actions can have an impact on the Lakes' supply.   Their water levels fluctuate naturally each year due to precipitation trends and seasonal variation, for example. However, there is much that we do to negatively affect the Lakes' water levels. These include dredging, excessive consumption, manufacturing needs, and piping of water from one locale to anther.   Two important policies underway in the region are the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (U.S.) and the Great Lakes - St. Larwence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (U.S. and Canada) are working to protect the Lakes from water diversions from the basin. Communities not located inside the basin would not be allowed to divert water from the Lakes unless their proposal is approved by all 8 Great Lakes states' governors.   Other ways we as individuals and communities can help conserve the Great Lakes water supply is by:   Support a water management agreement. The Great Lakes are a treasure and so they should be cautiously protected. A strong, fully enforceable, management agreement between the federal and regional governments of the United States and Canada should be signed as soon as possible - learn more about The Great Lakes Compact. When we conserve water for all, we protect our individual right to clean drinking water.   Discourage over-consumption. Although strong legislation is an important step in protecting our regional waters, everyone in the Great Lakes basin should be conscientious of water usage. Water conservation at home is easier than you think and will it will even save you money.   Encourage industries to be responsible. Just as individuals should be held accountable for their water use, so too should industries be. Manufacturing companies, especially those extracting water such as bottled water industries, tend to need public demand before they change old habits. Tap water is just as good as bottled - and it saves plastic too!   Support long-term water research. Safe drinking water is becoming more difficult to obtain for millions of people around the world. The environmental integrity of the Great Lakes depends on maintaining the natural balance of water outflows and inflows. If we expect to protect the Lakes' water resources from increasing calls for its exportation, then we must develop a better understanding of the impact of water consumption within the basin and the relationship between all of the water resources in the system.   There is a lot we can do to convserve and protect the Great Lakes' water supply. Click here to learn what you can do in your community to help protect the Lakes.