Drugs in the Drinking Water

New Yorkers have been proud of its drinking water (heck, the city even started advertising its benefits last year), but will the discovery of "barely measurable pharmaceuticals" in tap water change all that?

The AP conducted a survey of drinking water all around the country and found traces of drugs everywhere, including Los Angeles, Kentucky and NJ. In New York City, medicines likes "drugs for aches, infections, seizures and high blood pressure; hormones for menopause; the active ingredient in a popular sedative; and caffeine" end up in the water supply (they pass right through wastewater treatment plants).

It's unclear what the longterm effects are, given the uncertainty of how much is ingested by humans, but a Stony Brook University researcher found "feminized male flounder" in the Jamaica Bay, probably due to female hormones in the water. Well, that goes great with the STDs found in the Gowanus.

NYC's drinking water has never been tested for pharmaceuticals, which raises big concerns. City Councilman Peter Vallone said, "This is very alarming. Rather than sit back and be informed about this, New York City should have been proactive. I would hope we institute some sort of testing as soon as possible." The DEP statement is:

"Though nothing in the information we've seen presents a risk to this water supply, we understand and take very seriously public concerns about pharmaceuticals in drinking water and continue to closely monitor this emerging national issue, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. DEP and DOHMH are working together to develop an education program about the best disposal methods for medications, targeting both watershed communities and city residents, and to consider appropriate next steps."

As for how the drugs end up in the water supply, here's how the AP explains it (and this happens even if you're throwing out drugs with kitty litter!):

People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.
Waste from animals that had been given veterinary drugs also plays a role.

So taking that Aleve for your back now may revisit you later!

Photograph by Aeropleanic on Flickr

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 10, 2008 9:48 AM

Comments [rss]

smitty

It's also really bad for the environment, in addition to us.

Politburo

I swear I closed that tag.. it looked right in preview. Anyway, the link is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485/

Politburo

I swear I closed that tag.. it looked right in preview. Anyway, the link is:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485/

Politburo

"I believe it may have been subtly referenced in the AMNY article, but how come no one is talking about run-off from cattle (and other animal) farms?"

The feature article, also by the AP, discussed this:

"Human waste isn’t the only source of contamination. Cattle, for example, are given ear implants that provide a slow release of trenbolone, an anabolic steroid used by some bodybuilders, which causes cattle to bulk up. But not all the trenbolone circulating in a steer is metabolized. A German study showed 10 percent of the steroid passed right through the animals.

Water sampled downstream of a Nebraska feedlot had steroid levels four times as high as the water taken upstream."

JenChungsBaby

There is in fact a significant population in the city's watershed. There are about 50,000 people living in the Catskill watershed, and the Croton watershed comprises most of Westchester and Putnam counties.

The State DOH has been studying pharmaceuticals in the city's water supply for many years. The pilot study was to take samples in the city's watershed in four areas located directly downstream from sewage treatment plants. The variety of substances they found was remarkable, mostly as described above. What they discharge differs depending on the type of treatment process each plant uses, but I remember there is one treatment plant in Westchester that's putting out huge quantities of caffeine. People ingest this stuff and then piss it out and it doesn't just go away.

eyekantspel

I'm surprised that this stuff isn't monitored. Unfortunately, a lot of bottled water comes from the same sources.

nicolamj

I believe it may have been subtly referenced in the AMNY article, but how come no one is talking about run-off from cattle (and other animal) farms? Those cows are pumped full of all kinds of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals.

Jen Chung

This report might mean buy stock in innovative wastewater treatment technology! One of the AP articles noted that NY State is building wastewater treatment facilities with ultraviolet light that "help degrade" the level of pharmaceuticals.

JacqueMehoff

full of krap. the only flavoring NYC water gets is when I take a dip Upstate.

tnturner

"feminized male flounder"

That explains my new vagina (I am not a female).

tien

sweet. so the more i drink, i'll be pain free, without worry of infection, seizures, or high blood pressure, relaxed and energized. and i'll be ready for menopause when that rolls around.

Tim N.

Wasn't this an old Weather Underground trick? Put acid in the water supply? (Google if necessary, kids.)

PS: Jesus Christ, Vallone is an idiot.

Atomische

Hopefully any mood stabilizers in the water will cancel out the rivers of cocaine.

greggums

Peter Vallone is a fool (as is anyone who eats the fish out of Jamaica Bay). NYC water comes from runoff that is gathered in massive reservoirs upstate. There is no significant population around those areas.