Water
MWERF
Environment Research Foundation
Collaboration. Innovation. Results.
June 11, 2008
Dr. G. Tanner Girard
Acting Chairman
&
Member
Illinois Pollution Control Board
Suite 11-500
James R Thompson Center
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
635 Slaters Lane, Suite 300
Alexandria,
VA
22314-1177
Tel: 703-684-2470
Fax: 703-299-0742
Email: werf@werf.org
wwwwerforg
RECEIVED
CLERK'S OFFICE
JUN
1
7
2008
Po
STATE
Hutu)
, •
OF
Control
ILLINOIS
Board
7c--(1°
Re:
Peer Review
of
Epidemiologic Study
of
Recreational Use
of
the Chicago Area Waterways
Dear Dr. Girard:
The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is a nonprofit organization that helps
utilities, local governments and other stakeholders preserve the water environment and protect
human health by providing science and technology research to enhance management of our
water resources. In Spring 2007, WERF was asked by Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) to coordinate an independent peer review of its
Epidemiologic
Study of Recreational Use of the Chicago Area Waterways.
Peer review is a service that WERF
provides upon request, and in this case at WERF's expense, to its subscribers. It is our
understanding that this epidemiologic study is intended to provide scientific support for a
recreational water quality standard for the Chicago Area Waterways. It is in this context that I
am writing this letter to make you aware of WERF's efforts.
WERF assembled a panel of recognized experts to provide an independent review of the study
which is being conducted by investigators at the University of Illinois—Chicago's School of
Public Health (UIC). The reviewers have backgrounds in epidemiology, infectious diseases,
water microbiology, microbial ecology, risk assessment, public health, and waste water
management. The reviewers include professionals from academia, local government, consulting
and federal government agencies. Several members of the panel are currently conducting related
epidemiology, microbiological and other research studies. WERF's role is strictly in a
coordination capacity as the technical advice is provided by the panel members. WERF has no
direct control over, nor direct input into, the UIC epidemiologic study.
To begin the peer review process, the research team at UIC provided the peer review panel with
a detailed research plan and quality monitoring procedures in advance of the panel's first
meeting
held at UIC on July 17-18, 2007. In keeping with the approaches used by national
scientific organizations, all panelists reviewed documents that described general aspects of the
study, while specific sections of the research plan and quality assurance plan were assigned to
June 11, 2008
Page 2
individual reviewers based on their areas of expertise. All elements of the study were reviewed,
ranging from the study objectives, to aspects of recruitment of study participants, health
monitoring, water sampling, water analyses and statistical methods. The peer review panel
provided input including suggestions to UIC to further strengthen certain technical aspects of the
study. The final study plan reflects modifications that were advised in the peer review process.
The peer review panel was satisfied that the proposed study design is sound and thorough and
that the UIC research team, under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Dorevitch, is well qualified to
conduct the study.
The peer review panel met with the UIC Team again on February 27, 2008 to review the data
from the first season of sampling and to refine the study plans for the upcoming study season.
The peer review panel liked the progress they saw and agreed with the refinements made by the
UIC research team to the study plans for the second season of sampling.
The UIC's study has been designed to provide information that is valuable in the area of health
risks associated with secondary contact recreation, and address potential deficits in the current
knowledge of the health risks associated with limited contact water recreation and the measures
required to protect the public. WERF intends to continue to coordinate the peer review efforts
over the course of the study as the independent experts provide input to the collection, analysis
and interpretation of the data.
Sincerely,
aniel M. Woltering, Ph.D.
Director of Research
cc: Peer
Review Panel Members
Dr. Samuel Dorevitch, University of Illinois — Chicago
Thomas Granato, PhD, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
SAResearch \ 2006 Challenges \ PAU! \ PATHIPRO6Correspondenee WERF Letter to the IPCB- 06-11-08.cloc