Subcontinental divide
Encyclopedia
The Subcontinental Divide is an altitudinal divide in southeastern Wisconsin
running north to south along the Waukesha County/Milwaukee County border (mirroring Sunnyslope Rd. in New Berlin, WI). Water falling to the east of the divide flows to the east towards Lake Michigan
and water falling to the west of the divide flows west towards the Mississippi River
, eventually flowing into the Gulf of Mexico
. Although 62 percent of the area's population lives on the eastern side of the divide, due to the projected growth west of the divide, water shortages west of the divide have become a growing concern due to radium
contamination in the area's aquifers. To overcome the water shortage problems posed by the subcontinental divide, New Berlin has reached an agreement with the City of Milwaukee to expand their water purchases and receive safe drinking water from Lake Michigan
.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
running north to south along the Waukesha County/Milwaukee County border (mirroring Sunnyslope Rd. in New Berlin, WI). Water falling to the east of the divide flows to the east towards Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
and water falling to the west of the divide flows west towards the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, eventually flowing into the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Although 62 percent of the area's population lives on the eastern side of the divide, due to the projected growth west of the divide, water shortages west of the divide have become a growing concern due to radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
contamination in the area's aquifers. To overcome the water shortage problems posed by the subcontinental divide, New Berlin has reached an agreement with the City of Milwaukee to expand their water purchases and receive safe drinking water from Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
.