[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended Exelon for agreeing to fund the construction of a new water system for Godley. Today’s announcement comes seven months after Durbin wrote to Exelon CEO, John Rowe, asking him to specify Exelon’s financial commitment to providing a public water supply system for the residents of Godley.

“Braidwood area residents should be able to depend on a clean, reliable water supply,” said Durbin. “Exelon’s decision to fund the construction of a new water system will guarantee that both the families and industries of Godley can be assured of just that.”

In June, Durbin helped secure an independent health study of the Godley water system by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to determine the potential health impacts of contaminated water in the area. The study was conducted one month after Durbin sent a letter to ATSDR requesting that they conduct an independent health study of the water system.

In April, Durbin met with local residents who expressed concerns with a report citing what they believed to be a high incidence of cancer within a three-mile area of an outlet pipe originating at the Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station. The study, done by a local community organization, the Concerned Citizens Awareness Group, documented the occurrence of more than 60 cancer cases over a 20-year span in an area outside of Braidwood.

Late last year, Exelon informed local residents that tritium contaminated water was released from the Braidwood facility. While the quality of the water supply was not linked to tritium spills, the tritiated water releases incidences highlighted the need to conduct a thorough study of the level of contaminants in the drinking water supply and closely monitor local wells.