FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Contact: Hannah Lee Flath, hannahlee.flath@sierraclub.org, 860-634-0225
CHICAGO, IL -- As Illinois leaders gather this week to discuss statewide efforts to address Illinois’ nutrient pollution problem, Sierra Club is expressing support for Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Particularly in the wake of recent reports that show unhealthy levels of dangerous nutrients and nutrient-related toxins in our waterways, it is critical that Illinois invest in projects and programs to implement the strategy immediately.
Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin released the following statement:
“Nutrient pollution is Illinois’ most widespread water quality problem, affecting most of our rivers, lakes, and streams in cities, suburbs, and rural areas. An overload of nutrients from wastewater and fertilizers can impact the quality of our drinking water, make waterways unsafe for recreation, and impact wildlife. In recent years, stakeholders and state agencies have come together around the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, and Sierra Club strongly supports this long term plan to protect our water supply.
The recent report on our progress is a reminder that it will take many years to reduce nutrients to healthy levels in our waters, and underscores the importance of increasing investments in nutrient pollution controls in our wastewater plants, and scaling up programs to help farmers prevent fertilizer runoff. These investments will create good jobs in water infrastructure, and we urge state officials to increase funding for these projects to ensure we meet our clean water goals as soon as possible.”