[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAFE DRINKING WATER THROUGH 
                              CHLORINATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, this week marks the 100th anniversary of 
one of the most important public health achievements in U.S. history--
the chlorination of drinking water. On September 26, 1908, Jersey City, 
New Jersey began operating a treatment plant at the Boonton reservoir, 
becoming the first U.S. city to use chlorination to help bring safe 
drinking water to the homes of its citizens.
  Jersey City's groundbreaking work led to dramatic reductions in 
waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera. Other cities rapidly 
adopted chlorination, and by 1918, over 1000 cities were using this 
lifesaving technology to treat more than 3 billion gallons of water 
each day.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, by 
the middle of the 20th century, drinking water disinfection had helped 
to virtually eliminate cholera and typhoid fever; diseases that once 
killed thousands of Americans each year. This has contributed to a 
dramatic 60 percent increase in U.S. life expectancy since 1900. LIFE 
magazine has called the drinking water filtration plus the use of 
chlorine ``the most significant public health advancement of the 
millennium.''
  As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, I 
am gratified by the progress we are making in bringing safer water to 
the continent of Africa. This has been a joint effort by our 
government, non-profit agencies, and the private sector. Earlier this 
year, the American Chemistry Council and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development joined forces to help provide safer drinking 
water to Ghana, Mali and Niger. The groups announced a new two-year, 
$1.3 million partnership to implement household drinking water programs 
in communities facing some of the most severe poverty and health 
challenges in the world. The USAID programs use chlorine-based 
disinfection and safe water storage techniques to help reduce 
waterborne disease and improve quality of life. Working with local 
partners in each country, the programs are aimed at reaching an 
estimated three million people over two years. A recent World Health 
Organization study found that household based chlorination is the most 
cost-effective way to reduce common waterborne illnesses.
  Today we celebrate Jersey City's pioneering contributions to a 
century of healthier lives. I would like to specifically recognize the 
employees of United Water Jersey City and all the men and women working 
today to provide safe drinking water for all of us. We thank them for 
the fact that due to their efforts, we are so easily able to reach for 
a glass of safe and refreshing water.

                          ____________________