SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) advanced legislation through the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Thursday that would require public water supply operators to notify all health care facilities served by the public water supply of a water disruption event.

“The loss of clean water can have a huge impact on hospitals and other health care facilities,” Loughran Cappel said. “Since Legionnaire’s disease can thrive in water pipes, it’s important we do all we can ensure the bacteria that causes it does not grow and spread in these facilities.”

Under Loughran Cappel’s legislation, water supply operators must send notices between 15 and 30 days before any planned water supply disruption event or within two hours after any unplanned disruption event to health care facilities, as well as to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Health. Operators must also post a notice on their website or social media page, if one exists.

While health care facilities have water management plans already in place to mitigate issues such as legionella bacteria, knowing about water supply disruptions on a timely basis makes mitigation processes more effective in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

“It’s important to enforce these notices so we can prevent legionella bacteria in the water pipes of hospitals,” Loughran Cappel said. “This legislation will ensure there is a plan in place at our health care facilities in case of a water disruption.”

House Bill 4988 moves for further consideration before the full Senate.