SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to enhance the quality of public drinking water in Illinois.
This law will 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 Illinois should test and create action plans to address these harmful contaminants in drinking water.
"It is slowing down the rate of early childhood development," said Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago). "It's leading to an accelerated pace of chronic disease progression. And it's really something that we've got to get our hands around because everyone deserves to drink clean drinking water. Clean drinking water is a human right."
The 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.
Senate Bill 727 will take effect January 1.
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