NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

New Law Seeks to Rid Drinking Water of  Pharmaceutical Waste

Lake Forest, IL—Governor Quinn signed a new law today to establish a program through the Illinois EPA to rid traces of pharmaceuticals from Illinois water supplies.

The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop a system for managing household wastes such as pharmaceutical products, personal care products, batteries, paints, automotive fluids, compact fluorescent light bulbs, mercury thermometers, mercury thermostats, and other wastes from general household waste stream.

“In the past, residents across the state have simply flushed unused medicines and poured harmful chemicals down the drain causing environmental risk,” Garret said. “Now we will have alternatives to flushing pharmaceuticals—the practice of flushing medicines into our waterways cannot continue any longer.”

Senate Bill 178 also declares that in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, the IEPA must create and implement a public education program pertaining to household waste drop-off points that accept pharmaceutical products. The IEPA must also work with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop signs that furnish information on the proper disposal of drugs and distribute one of the signs to each pharmacy in the State.

Last summer, an Associated Press story indicated that trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies affected 46 million Americans.  This number was up from 41 million people as reported by the AP in March, 2008 as an investigation into the presence of pharmaceuticals in the nation’s rivers and streams.  In response, Garrett convened the Senate Public Health Committee to begin discussions from industry experts. Since then many federal and state hearings called for mandatory testing and disclosure and caused officials in at least 27 metropolitan areas, including Chicago to analyze their drinking water.

“This legislation is a comprehensive response to potential health risks surrounding pharmaceuticals in water around the state,” Garret said. “While tests conducted by the U.S. EPA deem current trace levels harmless, the new law will help preventing these amounts from increasing.”

Garrett, who serves as Majority Caucus Whip, also serves as the Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Environment. Garrett is no stranger to environmental issues. As one of the General Assembly’s “green legislators,” Senator Garrett has demonstrated a commitment to environmental and recycling issues. Over the course of the 95th General Assembly, Garrett was at the forefront of negotiations which have led to the signing of the Electronic Products and Recycling Act which created statewide goals for recycling and reuse of electronic devices including televisions, computers, cell phones and printers.