More on pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)

Many news outlets have published Associated Press reports regarding trace levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), which have been detected in source water and drinking water supplies across the nation.

As reported, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny -- measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. In addition, water utilities treat and clean the water to meet all regulations for safe drinking water.

Are traces of PPCPs found in the Sweetwater Watershed?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has performed baseline monitoring around the country for PPCPs in lakes, rivers, and in finished drinking water and has detected some of these compounds (such as nicotine metabolites) at very low or trace levels in both Sweetwater Lake and in treated water supplies. The concentration levels of the PPCPs, which have been detected, are millions of times lower than a concentration which could potentially cause a therapeutic or recognizable health effect.

The USEPA continues to evaluate the potential health effects of PPCPs at low levels. At this time, there are no known health effects associated with very low levels of the PPCPs in drinking water.

How do the drugs get in to the water?
Across the United States, the most common environmental sources of PPCPs are from agricultural or waste water activities. For example, when people use prescription and over-the-counter medicine, their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is then treated before it is discharged into rivers or lakes.

In many areas of the country, where water is drawn from major river systems, some of the water is cleaned again at drinking water treatment plants located down stream from waste water facilities and is subsequently piped to consumers. However, most treatment processes do not remove all of the drug residues.

Fortunately, the Sweetwater Authority’s local drinking water sources are relatively pristine. While there are impacts from urban development within our watershed, there are no discharges from waste water facilities and few agricultural operations.

How is Sweetwater Authority’s monitoring and protecting its drinking water?
The Sweetwater Authority’s watershed is well protected and is monitored on a regular basis. In addition, our advanced Urban Runoff Diversion System (URDS) captures surface runoff near Sweetwater Lake and the Sweetwater River at the low flow barrier. The URDS system provides a protective barrier for many types of contaminants (including PPCPs), and minimizes the potential for exposure to PPCPs in our watershed.

The Sweetwater Authority continues to comply with all federal and state drinking water regulations to insure our customers receive drinking water of the highest quality.

Customers with additional concerns, please call Lab Supervisor Mark Hatcher at 619-409-6813, or Chemist Justin Brazil at 619-409-6826.

For information on proper disposal of prescription drugs:
Visit the SMARxT Disposal website at:http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/