2008 Woodie Awards
What's in your water?
Metro areas find prescription drugs in city drinking water
Ali Carlson
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
With nationwide concern that drinking water could contain pharmaceuticals, water has been tested in specific areas of Iowa and the United States.
An array of pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water supply of at least 41 million Americans. The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, being measured in quantities of parts per trillion, according to the Cedar Rapids Water Department.
Within a five-month time span, drugs were detected in the drinking water supplies in 24 of the 34 major metropolitan areas that were tested, ranging from southern California to New Jersey and from Michigan to Kentucky. Although no contaminated areas have been found in Iowa, it is still a concern among those living in the state.
Jon Doese, Liberal Arts major stated, "It is kind of a concern but I am not worried about it at this time."
People who take prescription drugs absorb some of the drug into their bodies but the rest of it is passed through the body and then flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is released and then cleaned again at drinking water treatment plants but most of the treatments that the water goes through do not remove all of the drug residue, according to national studies.
Though it is growing concern in other areas of the United States, the Cedar Rapids Water Department has their own views.
Bruce Lyon, drinking water specialist for the City of Cedar Rapids stated, "We are not testing for pharmaceuticals at this time but at this time we are not sure of what to look for and how to look for it."
Kristen Hafner, public relations major, said she only drinks bottled water. "It seems rather strange that Cedar Rapids wouldn't make an attempt to make sure that their residents stay healthy," she said.
It has not only been a concern for those receiving their water from the city but those who draw water from their own well. Neither situation is in the clear for safe water. A site in each of the 50 states and an extra site in Missouri and Texas have been contacted about the drinking water in that area. All but one of the locations said that their drinking water has not been tested for pharmaceuticals, said Lyon.
Information is still being developed but a lot more information still needs to be gathered for progress reports, according to Lyon.
An array of pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water supply of at least 41 million Americans. The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, being measured in quantities of parts per trillion, according to the Cedar Rapids Water Department.
Within a five-month time span, drugs were detected in the drinking water supplies in 24 of the 34 major metropolitan areas that were tested, ranging from southern California to New Jersey and from Michigan to Kentucky. Although no contaminated areas have been found in Iowa, it is still a concern among those living in the state.
Jon Doese, Liberal Arts major stated, "It is kind of a concern but I am not worried about it at this time."
People who take prescription drugs absorb some of the drug into their bodies but the rest of it is passed through the body and then flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is released and then cleaned again at drinking water treatment plants but most of the treatments that the water goes through do not remove all of the drug residue, according to national studies.
Though it is growing concern in other areas of the United States, the Cedar Rapids Water Department has their own views.
Bruce Lyon, drinking water specialist for the City of Cedar Rapids stated, "We are not testing for pharmaceuticals at this time but at this time we are not sure of what to look for and how to look for it."
Kristen Hafner, public relations major, said she only drinks bottled water. "It seems rather strange that Cedar Rapids wouldn't make an attempt to make sure that their residents stay healthy," she said.
It has not only been a concern for those receiving their water from the city but those who draw water from their own well. Neither situation is in the clear for safe water. A site in each of the 50 states and an extra site in Missouri and Texas have been contacted about the drinking water in that area. All but one of the locations said that their drinking water has not been tested for pharmaceuticals, said Lyon.
Information is still being developed but a lot more information still needs to be gathered for progress reports, according to Lyon.
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