You may be unknowingly consuming drugs.
Written by Susan Parker | Updated on June 22, 2025
Reviewed by Susan Parker
11 sources cited
Overview
Congratulations if you are among the 30% of Americans who do not rely on prescription drugs. However, it's important to be aware that your water supply may contain a mixture of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, heart medications, and hormones. Read on to learn more.
Widespread Contamination
Research conducted by the US Geological Survey at the turn of the millennium revealed traces of various drugs in the water samples collected from 139 streams across 30 states. These drugs included antibiotics, antidepressants, heart medications, hormones, and painkillers. Subsequent investigations by the Associated Press in 2008 found similar contamination in tap water supplied to 41 million Americans in 24 major cities. The presence of antibiotics, heart medications, mood stabilizers, and hormones was detected. Philadelphia was identified as the city with the highest number of drugs in its drinking water, followed by other major cities like New York City, San Diego, and Atlanta.
Every Sample Contained a Blood Pressure Drug
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 found that common drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide, beta blockers, and carbamazepine were prevalent in wastewater treatment plants across the US. The study revealed that even small streams contained multiple pharmaceuticals, with the diabetes drug metformin being a particularly common contaminant.
Private Wells are No Protection
Contamination from pharmaceuticals is not limited to public water supplies. Private wells are also at risk due to various sources of pollution such as landfills, residential areas, and farming activities. Even in less populated areas like Cape Cod, traces of drugs have been found in well water samples. While regulatory bodies claim that the levels of drugs in drinking water are not harmful, some experts disagree.
What Can I Do to Avoid Drinking Drugs?
Traditional home filters are ineffective in removing pharmaceutical contaminants, and bottled water may not offer a solution either, as it often originates from municipal supplies. Reverse osmosis systems are the most effective at removing drug residues, but they can be costly and wasteful. A new option, AquaTru, is a counter-top reverse osmosis unit that claims to eliminate a high percentage of contaminants, including prescription drugs. However, further research is needed to validate these claims.
