The City of Arlington, the USGS (U.S. Geological Society) and the Stillaguamish Tribe are teaming up to study contaminates that may be entering the Stillaguamish River.

The Tribe and the USGS have been concerned since last September, when a sample of the river was taken and the results revealed rising levels of contaminating liquids. The culprits are thought to be personal care products and pharmaceutical drugs.

Scientists now plan to do more sampling and testing to see what effects these levels of foreign products have on the river's inhabitants, as well as their risks to human consumption. The samples will also gauge the effectiveness of the current and planned water treatment processes.

The first sample will be taken in 2009, with a second one taken in 2011 after the completion of the city's new wastewater treatment plant.

Meanwhile, Arlington's council members are looking into ways to help educate citizens about the proper disposal of pharmaceutical medication.

Councilmember Marilyn Oertle said, "I think people want to do the right thing, but they don't know how."

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