The Green Parent | Are There Drugs In Your Drinking Water?

Are There Drugs In Your Drinking Water?

As if Monday mornings aren’t bad enough, today’s post is filled with the grim news that emerged over the weekend regarding the presence of prescription medications in our drinking water. According to a recent investigation by the Associated Press,

“A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.”

Lovely news, huh? The AP conceded that the concentrations found were tiny…measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Still, their very presence is alarming. It also serves as a reminder that everything we do has an impact on the planet.

If you’re like me, you never really think about water contamination when you take medication. But everything we put on and in to our bodies eventually gets flushed into the water supply, and drugs are no exception.

What is the answer? Should we all stop taking medication? Absolutely not! Should we all start drinking evil bottled water in an attempt to avoid exposure? Again, absolutely not! According to the AP report, drinking bottled water will not protect you from exposure to these medications.

“Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry’s main trade group.”

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Treehugger.com recommends purchasing a point of consumption water filter that either mounts to your faucet or comes in a free-standing pitcher to filter out organic compounds. This is certainly a good remedy for the symptoms, and it will help to protect you and your family from exposure to prescription medications and other contaminants in your drinking water. But it won’t help to cure the overall problems surrounding water sanitation. It also won’t do much for the plants, fish, mammals, and aquatic ecosystems that are exposed to a daily onslaught of low-dose prescription medications.

The answer here lies in asking for answers from the one U.S. agency that is responsible for overseeing the protection of America’s water supply…the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So if you’re concerned about living in a world where prescription drugs regularly taint your water supply, get a filter…and then pick up the phone:

EPA Region 1 (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT): (888) 372-7341

EPA Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR, VI): (212) 637-3660

EPA Region 3 (PA, DE, DC, MD, VA, WV): (800) 438-2474

EPA Region 4 (KY, TN, NC, SC, MS, AL, GA, FL): (800) 241-1754

EPA Region 5 (MN, WI, IL, MI, IN, OH): (800) 621-8431

EPA Region 6 (NM, TX, OK, AR, LA): (800) 887-6063

EPA Region 7 (NE, KS, IA, MO): (800) 223-0425

EPA Region 8 (MT, ND, WY, SD, UT, CO): (303) 312-6149

EPA Region 9 (CA, NV, AZ, HI): (866) EPA-WEST

EPA Region 10 (WA, OR, ID, AK): (800) 424-4EPA