Water Sector News
A snapshot of clean water stories from publications around the country, updated daily!
BILL REQUIRES DRUG TESTING OF SEWAGE WATER TO TRACK ILLICIT DRUG USE
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) announced Assembly Bill 3073 the Wastewater Drug Testing Act. The first in the nation bill empowers the State Water Board, in collaboration with the State Department of Public Health, to require local water agencies to collect and test wastewater samples for drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and xylazine (aka Tranq).
Successfully used in Europe for over a decade, wastewater based drug testing allows local governments to pinpoint – down to a neighborhood level – dangerous spikes in the use of illicit drugs. Wastewater testing allows local public health departments and law enforcement to accurately allocate resources to tackle the rise of illegal drugs, allowing communities to feel safer and to save lives.