Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed three bills he says will help conserve and protect drinking water in the state.

One bill allows recycled, treated wastewater to be used for purposes that don't include consumption, such as watering golf courses or parks. Experts say this would save drinking water used for the same purposes.

Two other bills that Quinn signed Wednesday deal with safely disposing pharmaceuticals and prescription medicines to keep them out of the water system.

One bill, creating creates a pharmaceutical collection and disposal program, is a result of efforts by students at high schools in Pontiac and Antioch to collect and properly dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.

The second bill will allow municipalities to display containers to collect used, expired or unwanted medications.