What You Don't Know About Your Tap Water

By Connect Mason News Director Elizabeth Stern

Six pharmaceutical drugs have been discovered in the tap water in D.C. as well as Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County in a recent investigation. The study, conducted by the Associated Press, revealed that trace amounts of the following drugs were present in 25 out of 28 tested sites:

Carbamazepine: an anticonvulsant to treat epileptic seizures as well as a mood stabilizer for treating bipolar disorders

Ibuprofen: an over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer, usually used in Advil

Naproxen: another painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication found in Aleve

Monensin: an antibiotic, anti-malarial medication administered to cows

Sulfamethoxazole: another antibiotic used to treat infections in both humans and animals

Triclocarban: a disinfectant often used as an ingredient in antibacterial soap, which has raised concern due to its ability to disrupt endocrine hormone activity

Caffeine: a stimulant

Because the amounts are very small, researchers have yet to determine long-term effects on human as a result of these drugs.

General Manager of the Washington Aqueduct Thomas Jacobus reportedly said the drugs "come possibly from runoff from animal feed lots. Some of these compounds are used in the animal production business," Jacobus said. "And then human consumption of these, when it passes through the body and goes through the wastewater plant. Or, if people happen to take their extra pills, throw them into the toilet and flush them," he added.

One of the biggest problems water regulators face is that the current technology used to purify tap water has not been successful in eliminating or neutralizing these drugs. Chlorine is traditionally used to clean bacteria and some chemicals in drinking water.

"When you look at the very specific chemistry of the compounds that are being found," Jacobus said, "They're not broken up by chlorine. It would take a different kind of a treatment process, something like ozonation, to deal with those." Studies have shown that ozonation is the most effective treatment available for ridding water of drugs, although Fairfax Water claims that no method has been proven to remove pharmaceuticals in water as of yet.

GMU's supply of water comes from Goose Creek and Beaver Dam Creek, supplied by Fairfax Water. The facility claims to use a combination of ozone and granular activated carbon to treat its water and is studying other ways to purify water.

University Energy Manager Patrick Buchanan said, "I am not aware of any additional filtering that we do here on campus for drinking water."

According to Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenona Hauter, approximately 40 percent of bottled water is not necessarily safe either because it is "simply re-packaged tap water." Hauter says tap water is still the best way to go.