Environmentalists want candidates to focus on clean water

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Environmental groups in the Great Lakes region want the 2020 presidential candidates to talk more about clean water.

Groups led by the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition released a five-part platform Tuesday that they'll ask the candidates to support.

It seeks $475 million in annual funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which deals with chronic problems such as toxic pollution and wetlands loss.

RELATED: Hundreds of balls found in Lake Michigan from golf course

RELATED: Democratic presidential hopeful Inslee opposes pipeline plan

Other proposals include upgrading drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, keeping invasive species such as Asian carp out of the lakes, reducing harmful algae blooms and upholding clean-water laws.

RELATED: No Asian carp DNA found during Michigan waterway testing

Coalition executive director Laura Rubin said each candidate should offer plans for providing clean drinking water, calling it the campaign's biggest issue.

The groups released their proposals ahead of Democratic presidential debates scheduled for July 30-31 in Detroit.

RELATED VIDEO:

►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.

Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.