How in the devil does this get in the water

[peternap]

Pharmaceuticals found in Virginia drinking water
From NBC12 News

An Associated Press investigation has found a vast array of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water supplies of at least 41million Americans in 24 major metropolitan areas.

They include antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, as well as over-the-counter pain medicines.

Traces of antidepressants and pain relievers like ibuprofen were found in water in Virginia Beach. Water in Fairfax had traces of multiple antibiotics.

The concentrations are far below the levels of a medical dose, but some scientists are worried about the long-term consequences to human health.

Researchers don't yet understand the exact risks from decades of exposure to combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals. But recent studies have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife.

Utilities insist their water is safe.

[n74tg]

The medicines do not get totally absorbed by the human body; the excess is filtered out by the kidneys and passed on as urine.  That urine goes into the sewer and gets treated at the wastewater treatment plant; and guess what, the treatment process does not remove the medicine residues.  Treated water gets released into surface waters (ie streams, creeks, rivers).  Further downstream of those same surface water sources is the pickup for the next cities drinking water.  Granted the water gets treated before drinking (chlorination at a minimum, but other treatments are done as needed); that drinking water treatment also doesn't remove the medicine residues.  Soooooo; it's in your drinking water (and mine).  You might be surprised at the other things in your drinking water that you probably don't know about; things such as arsenic and cadmium (which are much worse than the medicine residues).

I have a bachelors and masters in civil engineering.  We studied this stuff extensively.

[glenn kangiser]

The west coast people must flush so the east coast people will have water.

Sorry --old joke.

[Daddymem]

What most of the stories are not stressing though-it HAS BEEN in the water since medicines existed.  What has changed is how tiny of a dose we can now detect.  There are lots of other things in there in low concentration that nobody tests for. 

[MountainDon]

I agree Daddymem, and the media loves to run a story that will scare people.

[glenn kangiser]

Insurance article on natural pollutants.

A small mine was shut down near the coast because of mercury which occurred naturally.  North of but near that area I have found rock that contained it in it's free native form.

http://www.irmi.com/Expert/Articles/2007/Slivka01.aspx

[Redoverfarm]

Makes me glad I got a well. Glenn yours water doesn't run up hill does it?

[Daddymem]

A well doesn't automatically mean you don't have these things in your water too.  Proximity to septic systems and aquifer properties will affect what is in your water.  In other words, if you and/or your neighbors take medicines and use chemicals (perfumes, hair gels, soaps, etc.) and you have a septic system, then your well could have the PPCPs in it too.  Not that it is a problem imho, unless the trace levels get large enough to be dangerous, but wouldn't want you to get a false sense of security.  Remember, what you flush down that toilet or drain in that sink GOES SOMEWHERE.

[Redoverfarm]

I realize that but the majority of the impurities are filter naturally where as someone getting his water from a public water works which draw out of a river it never gets a chance to be filtered except by mechanical means.  I used to live on the Ohio River and often the comments were that we were drinking what Pittsburg didn't want. We wer some 300 miles south of them.  When you think that the major waterways stretch from the north to the gulf just how much is added along the way.  That is really scarey when you think of the chemical plants that operate along the rivers.  Example would be that I lived 3/4 mile from DuPont and recently they were found guilty of C8 a chemical used in teflon that was manufactured at that plant (Washington Works).  And to think I drank the water out of a well that close.

[Sassy]

Kinda horrifying when you think about it...  this past summer I was doing a lot of swimming in the Merced River 10-15 miles downstream from a small community next to the river.  A few years back, this community put in a sewer - all it does is process the solids & dump the rest of it back into the river from what I've been told...   

It was a great place to swim, water the perfect temp, lots of deep pools, rocks you could jump from...  Glenn would pan for gold while I swam... now what am I gonna do?   

[Willy]

A well doesn't automatically mean you don't have these things in your water too.  Proximity to septic systems and aquifer properties will affect what is in your water.  In other words, if you and/or your neighbors take medicines and use chemicals (perfumes, hair gels, soaps, etc.) and you have a septic system, then your well could have the PPCPs in it too.  Not that it is a problem imho, unless the trace levels get large enough to be dangerous, but wouldn't want you to get a false sense of security.  Remember, what you flush down that toilet or drain in that sink GOES SOMEWHERE.

Besides what the county requires on a well water test I sent off a sample to our analytical laboratory freind and they tested it for over 25 different heavy metals. It tested out real good and I would recomend that test be done to any well your drinking out of just to be sure it is clean. Mark

[Redoverfarm]

Sassy you and Glenn can come here to swim. Don't know about the gold though. Oh yeah we have "black gold".  A good place to find a swimming hole as this county is known as the "birthplace of rivers".  There are 7 rivers that originate here and flow out.  Mostly Mountain run off and spring feed.

[peternap]

Your welcome to come here also. Central Virginia is becoming the new Florida. The winters h

OOPS...the wife just threatened me and told me to NOT explain my theory about how the James River is becoming the NEW GULF STREAM.

[glenn kangiser]

Love to hear that theory, peter.  Any chance the White House will be sucked into the expanding gulf stream?  Please?

You guys have the gold and I appreciate the offer.  You are awful close to the snake pit-- I mean DC, though.

http://www.goldmaps.com/east/virginia_gold_mines.htm

[Sassy]

Thanks for the offers!  Would love to visit Virginia.  I have a friend in Conn. & another friend in Kansas - we went to school together - anyway, they keep inviting us to visit - can't get Glenn to go anywhere - unless it's prospecting, so a couple girlfriends from here & I are thinking about taking a trip to Kansas & Conn.  and tour around.   Talk Glenn into visiting & we might just stop by! 

BTW, I'd like to know your theory too!

[MountainDon]

Road Trip, Sassy!!

Do it; nothing wrong with a night, or several days/weeks worth, out with the girls. One of my sisters does it every couple years, and K does independent dance convention trips every so often. (that's not my cup o' tea)