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Janet F. Gerske

850 West Oakdale Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60657

773-327-3498

June 2, 2008

Illinois Pollution Control Board

c/o John Therriault, Assistant Clerk

100 West Randolph Street, Suite 11-500

Chicago, Illinois 60601

RE: Rule Making R08-009

To The Illinois Pollution Control Board:

This letter is written in support of stronger water quality standards proposed by

the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for the Chicago Area Waterways and

Lower Des Plaines River.

As I understand it, the new standards would require the Metropolitan Water Reclamation

District (MWRD) to (1) disinfect treated sewage that flows into our waterways from its North

Side, Calumet, and Stickney wastewater treatment plants, in order to kill or greatly reduce

pathogens such as giardia and salmonella that can infect people and wildlife, and (2) better

regulate temperature and increase the amount of oxygen in the water to support fish, mussels and

other aquatic species.

It seems only sensible to disinfect the sewage effluent, particularly assuming that it is

accomplished in a way that does not introduce harmful chemicals into the water. It is imperative

that we do as much as possible to maintain healthy water systems, since we are made of water

and all life depends upon it.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

a-