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San Diego Tap Water Contains Pharma Products

A variety of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. San Diego officials plan to open a new water trea

San Diego Tap Water Contains Pharma Products

A variety of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. San Diego officials plan to open a new water treatment plant that would remove some of those products. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

The study found traces of a mild tranquilizer, anti-seizure medication, and ibuprofen in San Diego tap water. The concentrations are tiny and far below the levels of a medical dose for prescription or over-the-counter drugs. But some scientists are worried about the long-term consequences to human health.

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The San Diego County Water Authority's new Twin Oaks Valley treatment plant opens next month. John Liarakos with the Authority says the $170 million plant will use several treatment systems, including ozone, to clean the water.

Liarakos: The ozone treatment has been shown to eliminate some of the pharma waste products that have been detected in the water system. Not all of them, but a good number of them.

He says the authority's first treatment plant will produce some of the highest quality water in San Diego. But Liarakos says that water will be mixed with treated supplies from other sources. Some of those sources were found to contain the pharma waste products.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.