DuPage County and Naperville officials are weighing in on BP's plans to increase production at its Indiana refinery, which would mean increasing the amounts of ammonia and other pollutants discharged into Lake Michigan--our drinking water source. Should we worry?
Here with the both sides of the debate is our popular pro/con format:
Pro-permit: Indiana officials and the EPA already have signed off on the permit, so it's perfectly safe.
Con: Any additional pollutants discharged into Lake Michigan is bad for the lake, when we should be trying to reduce discharges.
Pro: This project will increase the refinery's capacity and produce more gasoline needed for the Chicago area.
Con: Lake Michigan is the drinking water source for millions of people, and it's part of the Great Lakes. Something this important should require approval from all states and Canadian provinces that border a Great Lake.
Pro: We're talking insignificant amounts of material that in no way will affect the safety and quality of drinking water that I''ll continue getting out of my tap in Naperville.
Con: I don't know, I'm switching toi bottled water.
Pro: Ha, got you! Don't you read the news? The source for most bottled water IS tap water!
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