Jesse Phillips, founder of the Winter Springs Water Quality Initiative, has released the following proposal to develop a partnership with a local university research program and provide affordable water testing for Winter Springs residents:
Emerging concerns about contaminants in drinking water present an opportunity for Winter Springs to take a proactive, science-based approach to protecting our families.
My goal is to pursue a partnership with a university, such as UCF or Rollins, to develop a program that gives residents access to reliable water testing at no cost or a substantially reduced cost.
Part of this partnership could include establishing a local water testing lab.
This program would serve two purposes: help residents better understand the quality of the water in their homes, and contribute to research on emerging contaminants, potential sources of exposure, and effective treatment options.
Working with qualified researchers and certified laboratories, we would seek to provide results residents can understand, protect participants’ privacy, and use what we learn to guide improvements to our water system.
We need to be proactive scientifically, not just reactive politically. As founder of the Winter Springs Water Quality Initiative, my vision is for our city to pioneer a community-based approach to water testing and research, setting an example for other municipalities.
-Jesse Phillips
Founder, Winter Springs Water Quality Initiative
