Focus: Drinking Water Safety

Concern about the safety of the nation's drinking water mounted when an Associated Press inquiry found small amounts of pharmaceuticals in 24 major metropolitan areas. The particles in various water sources included antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones. Drinking water providing for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals. Tests performed on Virginia Beach's water were negative to pharmaceuticals. Current research does not provide any definitive answers as to the effects of persistent exposure to pharmaceuticals particles in water, but some studies have found them damaging to humans and wildlife. "We recognize it is a growing concern and we're taking it very seriously," Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, told the Associated Press.

• Continue drinking plenty of water. Your local water supply meets the federal government's safety standards.
• Dispose of your medications properly, sealed in their containers. Never flush unused medications or personal products down the toilet or wash them down the sink.
• Follow any specific disposal instructions that may be printed on the medicine's label or may accompany information provided by your doctor.
• If your water comes from a well, consider asking a private lab to test the source.