One Water

there is one water, and it is ours to protect

The health and sustainability of our water resources depends on our ability to understand…

• The interrelationships of the water system
• The vastness and value of the system

We can take action by…

• Learning about water and the systems that serve us 
• Practicing stewardship of water resources

2025 great lakes and fresh water week events

There are many ways to enjoy water in Southeast Michigan and to become a One Water steward. An easy first step could be to take part in any of the Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week events happening across the region. Stay tuned for upcoming events for 2025’s Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week!

watch/share 30-second videos

Last year, the One Water team added new videos to showcase the benefits of working in the water industry and the positive impact it has on surrounding communities. In these videos, a few faces of the water workforce highlight the variety of jobs available to people in the water world. Unfortunately, cities and communities across the country are facing critical staffing shortages for the operation and maintenance of essential water infrastructure. Preparing future generations to be good stewards of our water resources is critical for maintaining our water systems and ensuring safe water for years to come. View the full One Water video playlist on YouTube.

Southeast Michigan’s Water Legacy

Just as the water around us has shaped our lives, we have shaped our waterways over the years. Rapid industrialization and urbanization of this region created wealth and prosperity, but they have also contributed to water quality issues. The history of our waters is inseparable from the history of our region, and lessons from the past are essential to improving water quality for future generations. 

In many ways, people are defined by water. The water we drink. The water we enjoy. There’s only one water. In Southeast Michigan, water is abundant. It shapes our communities. It gives us life. It is part of who we are. It is ours to protect. Prior to European settlement, our landscape and watersheds here looked different. The Anishinaabe peoples who first traveled these lands moved through forests and grasslands; they made their way over or around water and wetlands.

In the past few centuries, we’ve added a lot to the landscape. We’ve added people, buildings, industry, and much more. As we have developed the land and laid down roads to make travel easier for people, we have also built massive water systems that move water to where we need it and steer it away from the places we don’t.

Constrained by limited resources, our shared water systems are monitored and maintained every day by water professionals to ensure that we have reliable access to safe, fresh water.

Shaping our water’s future, together

As water systems age and need updating, we continue to learn and innovate, enabling us to effectively manage water systems and other infrastructure resources with smart, coordinated investments. We have made some big strides in water quality in recent decades, addressing pollution and reviving some of our most significant waterways. We are learning more all the time about how to manage our water resources more sustainably. Wet weather events are becoming more intense and more frequent; our aging infrastructure systems do not have the capacity to handle these increased volumes, and resources to enhance the system are limited. Whether it is by participating on this task force, sweeping a storm drain, or planting a tree, there is something all of us can do to ensure our water resources are sustained for generations to come.

Watch previous One Water webinars:

To lean more, read our annual One Water Implementation Reports: 

Series: Southeast Michigan’s Water Champions

The people of Southeast Michigan benefit from living in the heart of the planet’s greatest fresh water resource. The Great Lakes provide tremendous access to water, along with opportunities for travel, industry, recreation, and more. The region’s One Water partners are focused on protecting and sustaining our water resources so these benefits can be enjoyed now and for generations to come. Watch our Southeast Michigan partner series to learn what some of our Water Champions are doing to help maintain your watershed address. 

MS4 vs One Water

Communities in Southeast Michigan with MS4 Phase II Public Education Program (PEP) requirements can effectively leverage SEMCOG’s One Water Campaign to meet their educational goals. The One Water campaign offers resources and outreach materials designed to raise awareness about protecting and enhancing water quality. 

Explore how One Water Campaign materials can support a community’s MS4 Phase II PEP requirements. Visit EGLE’s website for additonal information.

One Water Blogs

Read blog articles from SEMCOG staff on stormwater, campaign efforts, flooding, and more!