Clean Water Action reacted to today's Associated Press survey of
test results for pharmaceuticals in drinking water by advocating for
more monitoring, pollution prevention and upgraded drinking and
wastewater treatment technologies.

"The President's FY09 proposed budget cuts water monitoring and
research," said Paul Schwartz, Clean Water Action National Policy
Coordinator. "Federal and state government need to support not only
more monitoring, but research into preventing this pollution and into
the best possible treatment technologies for drinking water and sewage
systems."

There are no federal or state standards or monitoring requirements
for pharmaceuticals in drinking water or treated wastewater. Studies
indicate that these chemicals are already harming reptiles, fish and
aquatic species. Impact on human health, including reproductive
function, is among the concerns that warrant increased attention to the
presence of these chemicals in U.S. water supplies.

Among the solutions that Clean Water Action supports are:

• Monitoring of both raw and finished water should be expanded.
• Research
  is needed into treatment technology upgrades that wastewater systems
  and drinking water utilities can use to remove drugs from water
  intended for consumption or other use.
• Programs to
  discourage flushing of unused drugs into public wastewater systems
  should be promoted. Permits for industrial discharges from
  pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and other institutional users of
  these drugs need to be reviewed and strengthened.
• Streams
  with evidence of deformed fish possibly due to pharmaceutical pollution
  should be targeted for cleanup activities in order to reduce the level
  of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals in the water.

Another important prevention avenue is a better understanding of opportunities to reformulate medicines of the most concern.

Schwartz noted that bottled water is not a solution, because it is
less regulated than tap water, more expensive and is drawn largely from
the same sources as public tap water supplies.

Clean Water Action Minnesota Program Coordinator Darrell Gerber
said, "This is just another example of the effect that we have on
drinking water without even realizing it. Safe drinking water needs to
be a priority for local, state and federal government."

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