A recent investigative study in the State of Delaware showed just how pervasive medication residues can be in the drinking water.

“Newly released details from a state drinking water study show that prescription drugs and personal care chemicals have crept into water supplies used by every major water utility tested.

The results, provided in response to a request from The News Journal, show smatterings of medicines ranging from analgesics and antibiotics to anti-convulsives and hormones in water used both by public and private companies, including all three of New Castle County’s largest public utilities and major suppliers in Kent and Sussex counties.

None of the medications detected at water intakes and treatment plants is regulated, and none is targeted or routinely removed by current treatment methods.” From the News Journal, August 4, 2010. 

You might recognize some of the contaminants found in this study. They include:  Ibuprofen (analgesic), triclosan (antiseptic), caffeine, cotinine (nicotine medication), Ethinyl estradiol-17 (semi-synthetic estrogen), iopromide (radiology contrast material), acetaminophen (analgesic), fluoxetine (antidepressant/Prozac), Gemfibrozil (cholesterol control) and many more.

While some may be present in small amounts the impact they have on people drinking water containing such pharmaceuticals is unknown.  One thing is for sure.  The impact will not be for the better …”I would consider it to be very significant potential impact,” said Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist in the Washington, D.C., office of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental group. ” Especially for things like endocrine disruptors, mood stabilizers, hormones. These drugs work naturally in the body at very low levels.” Quoted from the same article.

Although this study was done in Delaware, similar results would likely be found in other parts of the country. What can you do? You can treat your own water with a quality water distiller. Water distillers use the thermal-phase change process to purify water – recognized by the experts as the single most effect method of water treatment. I recommend you look at http://www.mypurewater.com/.