NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett
Majority Caucus Whip, 29th Senate District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

Garrett Hosts Public Water Summit

HIGHWOOD, IL—Majority Caucus Whip and State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) will host a public Water Summit on May 11th in response to innumerable articles and studies that have cited varying levels of pharmaceutical contamination in Illinois’ waterways.

Recently, studies have been published that show that trace amounts of pharmaceuticals have been detected in our water. Pharmaceuticals found in water include anti-seizure medication, anti-depressants, cholesterol medication and blood pressure medication.

As chair of the Illinois Senate’s Environment Committee, Garrett is hosting a public water Summit on pharmaceutical contamination in Illinois’ waterways as a follow-up to the water quality hearing she held in September of 2008.

Dr. William J. Cooper, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Urban Water Research Center at the University of California Irvine, will present research that includes the use of advanced techniques to remove pharmaceutical contaminants found in wastewater. Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on such techniques as oxidation with emphasis on the plausible removal of contaminants during the water filtration process.

Additionally, key water quality officials, including representatives from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Public Health, will provide a brief update on recent water quality initiatives in Illinois.

“The time has come for us to trust that our water is free of potentially dangerous bacteria, chemicals and toxins,” said Senator Garrett. “Clean water is imperative to our health and it is my goal to insure our citizens can trust our water to be safe.”