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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Senate to Hold Drug Water Hearings

Lawmakers press EPA to establish task force on contaminants

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(Newser) – Alarmed by an AP story, two top senators vowed yesterday to probe drug traces in US drinking water. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Frank Lautenberg plan to lead hearings next month to "protect our residents and clean up our water supply," Lautenberg said. The first of AP's three PharmaWater stories reported that antibiotics, sex hormones, and dozens of other drugs float in water consumed by 41 million Americans.

Pennsylvania lawmaker Allyson Schwartz called on the EPA to start a task force on the issue: "I was especially taken aback by the finding of 56 different pharmaceuticals discovered in the drinking water for the City of Philadelphia," she said. An EPA spokesman reacted by urging Americans to be more careful when throwing out prescription drugs.

A map shows locations in the U.S. where pharmaceuticals have been detected in drinking water.
A map shows locations in the U.S. where pharmaceuticals have been detected in drinking water.   (Associated Press)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., discusses water resources legislation during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., discusses water resources legislation during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Water is seen dripping from a tap in Philadelphia, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Water is seen dripping from a tap in Philadelphia, Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)   (Associated Press)
In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seen. (AP Photo/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
In this undated photo provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seen. (AP Photo/U.S. Environmental...   (Associated Press)
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., along with Sen. Frank Lautenberg, chairman of the Transportation, Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality Subcommittee, will begin an inquiry into the presence of pharmaceutical drugs found in major drinking water supplies.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., along with Sen. Frank Lautenberg, chairman of the Transportation, Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality...   (Associated Press)
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