State senators ratified the Great Lakes Compact as a part of an eight-state effort aimed at protecting the largest regional source of water.

“The federal law isn't strong enough. We need a new law and that's the compact,” said Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Allouez.

A new local study compiled by a group at Michigan State University focuses on the concern over the Great Lakes. It suggests that a better program needs to be developed in order to protect public health and improve water quality.

Joan Rose, MSU water research said that the report was more focused on understanding and monitoring the e-coli and pathogens and also looking at new technology and techniques they could bring to protect the waters. The Michigan senate voted unanimously for the compact.

Governors of eight Midwestern states negotiated the compact and approved it. Those that haven’t approved it are Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and New York have signed the treaty into law. Ontario and Quebec, two Canadian provinces, agreed to the compact.

Michigan’s Legislature adopted the compact, but lawmakers are still considering contested legislation to regulate large-scale water withdrawals.

Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, voted against the bill, saying that she had too many questions about the bill’s impact.

It will go to Congress for the final approval after all eight states pass it. Under the compact, a governor of any of the eight states could block diversions of water to areas outside the Great Lakes drainage basin, the Detroit Free Press reported.