Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation

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The Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation is a non-profit organization formed in December of 2000 with the primary goal to conserve, preserve, and protect Michigan’s water, as well as the public trust of those waters.  

MCWC was selected as the March Spotlight for the Great Lakes Town Hall based on its successful grassroots efforts. It organized local community members to raise awareness of the impact of Nestle Waters North America Mecosta bottled water operation, and its potential harmful impact on local streams and groundwater. 

MCWC’s battle against Nestle Water has been a long one, is well documented, has been filled with success and some disappointment, and it continues today.

The Town Hall recently caught up with Terry Swier, the President of MCWC, and asked her about the organization and its mission. 

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Great Lakes Town Hall (TH): What is MCWC’s mission, and what methods or approaches do you use to achieve this goal?

Terry Swier (TS): The mission of MCWC is education and legal action.  Its goal is to conserve, preserve and protect the public’s natural resources.  Its efforts have concentrated on research and education so that informed decisions are made regarding protection of the quality and quantity of Michigan’s groundwater, wetlands, lakes, streams, ponds and wildlife.

These goals have been achieved through Q&A information meetings at churches, town halls, clubs and organizations as well as appearing before state legislators and U. S. Congress.  MCWC has produced newsletters, pamphlets, and written op-eds, letters to the editors, and articles to numerous papers and for other grass roots organizations newsletters. 

TH: What are the benefits of engaging a community of citizens [as MCWC’s member base] versus a group of highly trained professionals?

TS: MCWC represents the people who are directly affected and clearly do not want their water taken out from under them and diverted from the Great Lakes Basin one small bottle at a time so a multinational corporation can make huge profits.

MCWC’s board and members spend their time and efforts fighting the true nature of the cause and the moral belief that what we are fighting for is the right course of action for our future generations. MCWC believes that right will prevail and that we all have a voice.

TH: How is MCWC the same and different from the organization it was prior to winning the battle against Nestlé?

TS: Winning the case gave us a renewed spirit, new press, new members, and an over-due respect from other environmental organizations.

MCWC is also the same as it was in December 2000; it has a strong will to keep up the fight against Nestlé. It is easier to fight for what you believe in than to give up.

TH: What do you see as the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, and most promising solutions?

TS: Among the greatest threats are:

(1) the diversion of Great Lakes’ water out of the basin.  What many don’t realize is that shipping water out of the basin is setting a dangerous precedent for future water users in other states and/or countries.   There are issues under NAFTA and the World Trade Agreement. To stop this potential threat, the Water Resource Development Act needs to be revised as well as fixing the Great Lakes Compact loopholes;

(2) invasive species; and 

(3) funding for Great Lakes clean up and restoration.

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MCWC has been spotlighted on radio and TV and has been featured in several water related documentaries such as FLOW: For the Love of Water and BLUE GOLD, as well as in a chapter of the book Thirst: Fighting the Corporate Theft of Our Water. 

For more information, visit their website at http://www.savemiwater.org/.

Town Hall co-editor Brenna Wanous researched and contributed to this article.