Antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, along with other pharmaceuticals, have been found in approximately 41 million Americans’ drinking supplies, according to an Associate Press investigation.
James E. Hairston of the Alabama State Water Program disagrees with the recent scare caused by the investigation.
“When you have drugs showing up in the water, it’s always a concern,” Hairston said.
Although, he said at the levels recorded by geological surveys and the Environmental Protection Agency, the alarm is minimal.
“I’m not real concerned about it yet, because I believe in science and I know what’s going on,” Hairston said.
Hairston advises the public to throw pills and chemicals away and do not pour drugs or any chemicals down the sink or the toilet.
“The wastewater treatment plants discharge back into the surface water system, so if any kind of chemical is not completely taken out, then the next city down the river may be taking that into their drinking water,” Hairston said.
Along major river systems like Alabama’s Tallapoosa River, water for municipalities may be used 10 to 15 times in the state before it reaches the gulf.
“I don’t think there’s a big threat here in Auburn at all, because we’re not pulling water out of a major river,” Hairston said.
Only during a drought do Auburn and Opelika pull water out of Lake Harding on the Chattahoochee River.
“There is a tremendous amount of work going on right now in testing the concentrations of these chemicals that are showing up in water,” Hairston said.
The AP report listed some major metropolitan areas like Atlanta, which had traces of three pharmaceuticals: acetaminophen, caffeine and cotinine; New Orleans had clofibric acid, estrone and naproxen; Birmingham.
The complete list of cities is online at CNN.com.
Some water treatment plant processes do not test for drugs like cholesterol fighters, tranquilizers and anti-epileptic medications.
Also, there are no sewage treatment systems specifically designed to remove pharmaceuticals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Despite the recent studies, many like Hairston are remaining calm.
“I trust the way we handle water testing in the U.S.,” Hairston said. “I think we probably have some of the best and safest water in the world.”
Hairston urges students and residents to continue drinking lots of water a day and do it from the tap.
Katie Watson, a sophomore in pre-pharmacy said she thinks the study is being hyped up too much.
“The most common drug found in water is caffeine, which people eat and drink every day, but since the AP came out with this report, people think it’s revolutionary and are upset at water treatment plants and the government,” Watson said. “We might be blowing this out of proportion. They need to research the concentration of the water with drugs in it.”
Abby Womack, a sophomore in nutrition science said she was not worried, but would keep the study in mind.
“I definitely feel safe drinking the water in Auburn” Womack said. “I don’t think about it when I drink water, but it’d be smart to. Now I will think before I drink.”