Bob CollinsLast March, I wrote in this space about the abundance of pharmaceuticals found in the source water for drinking supplies. A study out today updates the situation: It’s worse than we thought.
The AP reports:
Chicago, for example, found a cholesterol medication and a nicotine derivative. Many cities found the anti-convulsant carbamazepine. Officials in one of those communities, Colorado Springs, say they detected five pharmaceuticals in all, including a tranquilizer and a hormone.
“This is obviously an emerging issue and after the AP stories came out we felt it was the responsible thing for us to do, as a utility, to find out where we stand. We believe that at these levels, based on current science, that the water is completely safe for our customers,” said Colorado Springs spokesman Steve Berry. “We don’t want to create unnecessary alarm, but at the same time we have a responsibility as a municipal utility to communicate with our customers and let them know.”
Fargo found small amounts but they were so small the water director sent them to the health director to figure out how to interpret the results.
