DENVER, CO, February 13, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) has been chosen by MillerCoors and River Network as one of eight finalist organizations to receive funding for watershed protection programs. The award will advance the Institute's efforts to improve the quality and safety of Colorado drinking water by reducing the accumulation of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in drinking water sources.
"Recent studies have shown the presence of small amounts of everyday drugs and other household products in drinking water supplies across the nation, including here in Colorado," said Carol Lyons, IES executive director. "There is growing concern among scientists that even small concentrations may be harmful to human health over the long term."
The MillerCoors funds will support pilot scale research in Golden, Colorado, proposed by IES to define the extent and source of drinking water contamination. IES will sample and analyze water in Golden to determine the presence of pharmaceuticals and will survey residents to learn how they use and dispose of pharmaceuticals and other personal care and household products. The pilot project schedule extends through August 2009.
The amount awarded to each finalist will be determined through an online voting competition open to the public. The four finalists receiving the most votes will receive $10,000 each, with $1,000 awarded to each of the remaining finalists. Votes will be accepted at http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/vote-millercoors-grants through March 6.
"We are proud to partner with MillerCoors on this grant competition to directly support community-based projects," said Ezra Milchman, president of River Network. "River Network believes that strong community-based groups are our best opportunity to protect and restore our rivers, lakes, and watersheds."
The pilot scale effort in Golden is part of a larger IES project called Emerging Contaminants: Linking Science to Effective Action designed to reduce the accumulation of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in Colorado drinking water sources through collaborative action by state and local government, relevant industries, and the scientific community.
Based on the results of the pilot phase, larger scale remedies can be designed for wider application. IES has established a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to guide the project. Committee membership comprises representatives from a wide spectrum of organizations, including local and state government agencies, academic researchers, drug manufacturers, ecologists, water providers, and water treatment facilities.
The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) is a Denver-based non-project organization dedicated to addressing complex environmental challenges. IES uses sound, independent science to find potential solutions, develop objective evaluation methods, implement strategies, and measure and demonstrate costs and effectiveness. IES's approach emphasizes integration across technical disciplines and inclusion of all potential stakeholders throughout project design and implementation.
For more information about the Emerging Contaminants Project and IES, please visit http://www.i4es.org. To register your vote for the Institute for Environmental Solutions' Emerging Contaminants Project, please visit http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/vote-millercoors-grants.
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