Gothamist: Drugs in the Drinking Water

smitty

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:46:17 -0500

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

Politburo

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:20:27 -0500

I swear I closed that tag.. it looked right in preview. Anyway, the link is: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485/

Politburo

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:19:57 -0500

I swear I closed that tag.. it looked right in preview. Anyway, the link is: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485/

Politburo

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:18:37 -0500

"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."

JenChungsBra

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:56:58 -0500

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

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:53:18 -0500

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

nicolamj

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:45:22 -0500

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

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:03:42 -0500

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

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:22:23 -0500

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

tnturner

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:17:45 -0500

"feminized male flounder" That explains my new vagina (I am not a female).

tien mao

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:13:24 -0500

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.

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:09:00 -0500

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

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:53:29 -0500

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

greggums

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:52:28 -0500

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.

S.D.

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:34:09 -0500

Explains so much...