Medications In Drinking Water Prompts Congressional Hearing

Denver Water Officials: ‘Drinking Water Is Safe’

DENVER -- Two U.S. Democratic senators said they plan to hold hearings in response to an Associated Press investigation into the presence of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies for more than 40 million Americans.

Barbara Boxer and Frank Lautenberg said the oversight hearings would likely be held in April.

And Democratic Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a national task force to investigate the issue and make recommendations to Congress. She said the AP report "raises serious questions about the safety and security of America's water system."

The AP report found that while water is screened for drugs by some suppliers, they usually don't tell their customers that they have found medication in it, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

"Denver's water is safe to drink," said Brian Good, Director of Operations for Denver Water.

In a statement, Denver Water said it decided to be proactive and participate in some of the earliest research projects looking for microconstituents (a project with Colorado State University in 2005).

Denver Water said it did not find any estrogenic compounds but did detect trace amounts of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals at part per trillion concentrations.

Good said one part per trillion is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. "They pale in comparison to the concentrations found in watersheds in other parts of the country," Good told 7NEWS.

“It kind of makes you wonder where the pharmaceuticals are coming from," said Geoff Morneau, as he rode his bike home along Cherry Creek Monday.

Water experts said drugs that are flushed or not fully metabolized make their way to waste water treatment plants and then to rivers.

What we have to understand is, if some of these substances are harmful, at what level are they harmful," said Steve Frank, Public Information Officer for Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, which serves 1.6 million people in the Denver area.

Frank said the trace amounts were not even detectable using measuring technology that existed several years ago.

Good said some fish in Colorado are being negatively affected.“That definitely is enough reason to keep researching to see if this is going to be a problem for people," Good said.The Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement it will continue to support research on the topic.“To date, scientists have found no evidence of adverse human health effects from pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment,” the release stated.Denver Water said it has spent $100,000 in water research.According to the Associated Press story, trace amounts were found in the water supplies of at least 24 major metropolitan areas, from Southern California to northern New Jersey.

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And this is why I always advocate that everyone should have a RO system at their tap, not the Brita pitchers, etc. but a good RO system. ~ White-Eagle