Gov. Signs Schepisi's Drinking Water Protection Bill

The new law prohibits health care facilities from dumping drugs in sewers or septic systems.

Governor Chris Christie signed a law Monday which "prohibits health care facilities from discharging prescription medications into sewer or septic systems." The legislation, A-733, was written in response to a 2008 Associated Press report which found "a vast array of pharmaceuticals" in the drinking water of at least 41 million Americans. There were seven drugs, including caffeine, carbamazepine, codeine, cotinine, dehydronifedipine, diphenhydramine and sulfathiazole found in northern New Jersey drinking water, according to the report. The bill was sponsored by Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen and Passaic). “The safest way to make sure children aren’t at risk from pharmaceuticals in our drinking water is to stop dumping medicine into…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)