The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy indicates there are 1.4 million homes in Michigan that are not hooked up to a sewer system. Many use septic tank systems. But Molly Rippke, an aquatic biologist with the agency, says there’s a big problem.

Bacteria and viruses from human waste getting into Michigan water

The Environment Report, hosted by Lester Graham and other Michigan Public reporters, explores the relationship between the natural world and the everyday lives of people in Michigan.

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When you visit one of the Great Lakes, whether it’s a sandy beach or a rocky coastline, it’s hard to imagine how something so big could be affected so profoundly by alien invasive species, or pollution, or climate change.

Great Lakes in Peril: Invasives, pollution, climate change

On Thursday, environmental groups and Native Americans plan to present Enbridge Energy with symbolic eviction notices. They want Enbridge to abide by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to shut down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.

"Water is life" is the theme of Day 1 of protests to shut down Enbridge Line 5

Enbridge Energy technically has one more day to shut down the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, but even the pipeline’s most vocal opponents acknowledge slim odds that the oil actually stops flowing right away.

On eve of Line 5 shutdown deadline, Enbridge vows to defy Michigan order

There’s been a lot of news about the amount of plastic debris in the oceans. But plastic pollution is also affecting the Great Lakes. A study out of the Rochester Institute of Technology estimates 22 million pounds of plastic debris enters the Great Lakes from the U.S. and Canada each year.

Plastic debris is getting into the Great Lakes, our drinking water, and our food

Right now, scientists are on a ship taking samples and measurements of the Great Lakes. They’re trying to determine how the lakes will fare this year and watching for trends.

Bacteria and viruses from human waste getting into Michigan water

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