SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could enhance the quality of public drinking water in Illinois.
It would also clarify that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is the primary agency responsible for implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The Illinois House unanimously voted Monday night to require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to conduct statewide samplings of certain community water supplies to assess the levels of dangerous chemicals.
Sponsors and advocates said the state should test and create action plans to address these harmful contaminants in drinking water.
"It is running rampant in our water systems," said Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (D-Chicago). "It is hazardous to our health, and we're just trying to understand the extent of the PFAs in our environments."
This legislation also calls on the EPA to annually convene a group of stakeholders to review chemicals likely to pose substantial health hazards to Illinoisans in order to propose and review state laws.
State senators unanimously approved the plan on May 17.
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