Why is Lake Michigan black in Milwaukee?

[linazelle]

I just moved from Chicago to Milwaukee. I've grown up around the lake all my life and I love it. I even found a house in Milwaukee by the lake. But as I'm driving to work, I pass the factories and the water is so black and uninviting it's disturbing. I drove up to Michigan recently and the water doesn't look that way. And it didn't look that way in Chicago either--it was blue. So what gives? Are the emission standards for the factories so low in Wisconsin that they allow excessive pollution of the lake? It seems that way.

[LTR]

1. Heavy pollution

There were some problems with sewers flowing into Lake Michigan not too long ago, problems that are currently being adressed by the new mayor.

It has gotten kinda bad. Beaches have been closed for some time.

[papau]

2. From 1850's to 1950's Milwaukee had huge leather tanning chemical

operation. Then US Steel in 1920's did their chemical coating of wire to prevent rust during storage, and the coal ships for the mills add in the slaughter houses and farm run off and brewery runoff.

In the 40's to the 70's beach warnings were daily items -the question being would the bad water reach Waukegan, or even Chicago. Kenosha had great waves - but you did not go into the water.

I thought that was all cleaned up - and one is left with the Ocean freighter oil sludge being black, and black growth from the from fertilizer run off - but the water safe to go into - just do not drink. Indeed it may be safer than that and drinkable.

[mark414]

3. in the spring

they dumped over a billion gallons of sewage into the lake due to heavy rains

our new mayor is supposed to be working on it

[Southsideirish]

4. How do you like it? We are Chicagoans, too and love Milwaukee.

Seems like a smaller version of Chicago and better in many ways. How is the job situation up there?
Thanks.

[linazelle]

7. I like Milwaukee a lot. It's calmer and greener and seems to have a

LOT of potential for becoming a world-class city. I like the slower pace. I don't like that the sidewalks roll up at dusk and I miss a lot of my favorite stores in Chicago. And the WalMarts---OMG, there's one on every corner. They have taken over this city. I love that there are so many bike riders, too. I'm going to buy a bike soon.

[mark414]

8. wal-marts? in chicago you mean?

cause um...there's maybe 2? in milwaukee?

[linazelle]

11. I haven't been everywhere, I'm just learning my way around but

I've seen Walmarts in Greenfield, Brown Deer, on Capitol....

In comparison to driving the same span of distance around Chicago, there do seem to a lot of Walmarts located within a short distance of one another. Maybe Greenfield and Brown Deer aren't in Milwaukee? :shrug:

[Rich Hunt]

9. it's a good location

I'm in Chicago, but obviously, I've been to Milwaukee a lot. If you ever miss Chicago, you're not very far away at all, but you're a lot closer to Wisconsin's beauty (they have such great parks), and Milwaukee is pretty nice. If you can do without the 24-hour lifestyle, and especially if you're an outdoorsy type, it's a really good situation.

That's too bad about the beaches, but then again, Lake Michigan is too cold for all but one or two months of the year.

[Southsideirish]

10. I love the "east side" area - reminds me of Hyde Park or

Wicker Park. The "Prospect area" is nice, too, if you are daily runners like us - close to the lake.

Thanks for your input!

[mb7588a]

5. poop.

[RetroLounge]

6. Hi! Another former Chicagoan here in Milwaukee

but I don't swim in the lake...

Too much dookie...

RL