Pharmaceuticals in Water:

Implications for
Sustainability
Shane A. Snyder – Southern Nevada Water Authority

Dear Mr. President

T
he United States is privileged aquatic organisms experience a far greater Some compounds are indeed toxic
to have some of the safest and exposure to contaminants in water than at extremely low levels. But other
most reliable supplies of drinking do people; we can not simply extrapolate compounds can be consumed safely
water on Earth. Despite the fact that impacts seen in fish to potential impacts at concentrations thousands—in some
our nation’s drinking water is protected to human health. Consider that common cases millions—of times greater than
through legislation and the diligent efforts chemicals used to disinfect drinking found in water supplies. The point is that
of water agencies across the country, we water—such as chlorine—are quite we can neither rule in, nor rule out, the
must cope with the irrefutable fact that all toxic to fish, yet we regularly use these health risk of a particular contaminant
chemicals synthesized by man have the chemicals to protect human health. based solely upon its detection.
propensity to contaminate our drinking
water sources. Recently, a tremendous Despite the recent media attention, Therefore, when considering the extent
amount of media coverage has focused on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals to which water must be treated, we must
the occurrence of trace pharmaceuticals in in U.S. waters is not new. In fact, not simply react to what we can detect,
drinking water. While the concentrations pharmaceuticals have been in water but use science to guide decisions that
of pharmaceuticals detected in drinking as long as people have used them. optimize our limited supplies of water
water are unfathomably minute, the idea of The first known scientific report of and energy while protecting public health.
unintentional human consumption of them pharmaceuticals in wastewater outfalls It would be neither feasible nor prudent
is understandably alarming to the public. was published by the U.S. Environmental to treat all water to the degree that all
Protection Agency in 1975. Since then, potential contaminants are undetectable.
Compounding this concern are reports many more pharmaceuticals have been Consider that if analytical technologies
of reproductive disorders in fish exposed detected. This does not simply mean our had been limited to parts-per-billion
to domestic wastewater effluents. While rivers, streams, and groundwaters are sensitivity instead of parts-per-trillion,
the evidence for potential impacts to becoming increasingly contaminated; essentially no pharmaceuticals would be
human health from pharmaceuticals in rather it is also direct reflection of detected in U.S. drinking waters. The
water is tenuous, substantial data exist vastly improved analytical technologies. corollary is that as analytical sensitivity
regarding the potential for adverse We now can identify and quantify reaches parts per quadrillion levels and
impacts to aquatic organisms. The first substances in water at infinitesimally lower, removing trace contaminants to
documented report of wastewater impacts minute concentrations. As the sensitivity the threshold of nondetection will be
to fish reproductive health occurred in of analytical techniques increases and increasingly difficult. No barrier will
Lake Mead, Nevada, in 1996. Subsequent scientists are able to detect ever smaller be capable of reducing concentrations
studies have indicated that both natural concentrations, more contaminants of every known constituent dissolved
and synthetic estrogenic hormones will continue to be discovered. in water to levels undetectable by the
are the likely causative agents, and in most powerful analytical techniques.
fact concentrations of natural estrogen Does Detection Merit Treatment?
hormones are far greater than those of The detection of pharmaceuticals in But how we respond to increased
the synthetic estrogen hormone used as our water should not be dismissed as detection of contaminants has the
an oral birth control pharmaceutical. But insignificant, nor is it cause for alarm. potential to impact even more than
22 • January/February 2009 • Southwest Hydrology
human health. We are facing severe that they have undergone extensive human scientifically sound and based on the
challenges related to energy consumption clinical trials. Thus we already have a protection of human and ecosystem health,
and increased carbon emissions, and rich dataset regarding their potential not simply detection and perception.
treatment methods known to remove trace health risks. In most cases, toxicologists Such federal guidance will allow us to
contaminants—such as reverse osmosis better utilize our water resources in ways
and ozonation—are for the most part that provide the greatest public benefit.
energy-intensive as well as expensive. We can neither rule in, Population growth and subsequent urban
It would be unwise to dramatically
increase energy consumption for water
nor rule out, the health density increases are elevating demands
treatment in the absence of a legitimate risk of a particular for fresh water. With this growth comes
more agricultural development and
threat to public health. Water treatment contaminant based escalated wastewater flows, and an
processes that minimize the concentrations
of trace contaminants in water and
solely upon detection. associated increase in contamination of
have the fewest environmental impacts fresh water. This is especially true in the
deserve our attention and resources. and regulators have significantly more arid Southwest, where high growth rates
robust data by which to determine coupled with decreasing freshwater flows
The Regulatory Process the “safe” level of pharmaceuticals in due to climate change threaten already-
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act water than they do for the vast majority fragile water systems. While water reuse
(SDWA), the EPA established rigorous for irrigation and indirect potable use
of synthetic organic chemicals.
mechanisms to address contaminants continues to expand, the perception raised
in water. While these processes can at Federal Guidelines Needed from the occurrence of pharmaceuticals
times seem quite slow and tedious, it U.S. water providers and the public and other emerging contaminants threatens
is important that all contaminants be urgently need definitive information on to undermine greater use of this valuable
evaluated thoroughly and with equivalent the levels at which pharmaceuticals in asset. Wastewater is becoming a more
scrutiny. The SDWA sets forth a process drinking water could potentially affect important part of our water resources
by which levels of contaminants in human health. I strongly entreat the portfolio. By concentrating our attention
water are assessed; the criteria for this on real health impacts of changes in the
new administration and Congress to
process include providing a margin of water chemistry, we can reassure the
direct EPA to quickly develop health
safety for human exposure. Detection of public that recycled water is a viable,
advisory levels for commonly detected
any new contaminant in drinking water valuable, and essential resource.
pharmaceuticals in drinking water
should trigger an EPA investigation to
based on protection of public health. Shane Snyder is the research and development project
determine what levels of the compound manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority
Water suppliers need this information and associate adjunct professor of chemistry at
are safe for human health, but should
in order to provide efficient, effective the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In April 2008
not automatically require additional he testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on
water treatment that minimizes cost and Environment and Public Works for a subcommittee
treatment or potential remediation.
energy consumption; the public must hearing entitled “Pharmaceuticals in the Nation’s
Water: Assessing Potential Risks and Actions to
Pharmaceuticals are unique compared to have confidence that their water supply Address the Issue.” Contact him at
most regulated organic contaminants in is safe. The water-quality goals must be shane.snyder@lvvwd.com.

January/February 2009 • Southwest Hydrology • 23