Wisconsin Line 5 Reroute Breaches Aquifer Near Marengo

Construction on Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute near Wisconsin’s Marengo River breached an aquifer after pipe was installed beneath the river, prompting a site visit by the state Department of Natural Resources. Enbridge says the water flow is being monitored and contained while it works with the agency and specialists; the amount released is unknown, and the company has reported no flooding or impacts to drinking-water wells or waterbodies. The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission has raised concerns about water quantity, saying excess water is being pumped into tanker trucks and sustained heavy flows could cause flooding or change water levels. Tribal and environmental advocates have criticized the work and called for enforcement, amid broader disputes over the reroute and Enbridge’s record of aquifer breaches during other pipeline construction.