Nothing compares to Lake Michigan. It is a local and national treasure. It’s a place for families, sunrises and sunsets, swimming, boating and fishing. It defines our region and state by supporting our public health, economy and quality of life. Right now, Waukesha wants Lake Michigan water, despite its location outside the Great Lakes basin.

Waukesha is the first community to make such a request under the Great Lakes Compact, a historic agreement that protects Great Lakes water from being sold, no matter the price. Thankfully, the Compact sets a very high bar for these requests. Waukesha has requested to take nearly 3.7 billion gallons of Lake Michigan water annually.

This is serious, and Lake Michigan water should be a last resort. While everyone deserves clean, safe water, Waukesha must first take commonsense steps to reduce its water use and maximize the safe water resources it has available. The city has long had a plan for water conservation but has failed to commit sufficient effort or resources to it. Waukesha must be a leading example to protect this national treasure.

Ask the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to make water conservation a top priority as it evaluates Waukesha’s application and ensure that Lake Michigan water is truly is a justified last resort. Anything less would just be wasteful.