Determining Water Quality

Studies undertaken in Europe, the United States and Canada have detected a wide range of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in surface water, groundwater and even drinking water systems. 

PPCPs are basically all drugs such as antibiotics, steroids, antidepressants, narcotics, painkillers and tranquilizers. 

They also include oral contraceptives, antiseptics, fragrances, shampoos, sunscreens, insect repellents, food supplements, caffeine and nicotine, to name a few.

There are several ways this form of water contamination occurs. When you take a drug, a large percentage of it passes through the body unchanged. The body also converts some of that drug into other compounds called metabolites, which may be even more bioactive than the original drug.

The combined result is excreted through urine and feces and ultimately ends up in waste treatment plants along with other personal care products that have been washed off the body.

Most treatment plants are unable to remove PPCPs, so they pass into either surface waters (from the liquid portion) or groundwater (from the solid waste portion).

Runoff from farm animal operations also contributes a significant amount of PPCPs to the environment, as do hospital discharges and the aquaculture industry.

The EPA has established federally enforceable standards for less than 100 contaminants that may be found in your drinking water.

When one considers that there have been over 50,000 different chemicals produced since 1945 and that 21,000 pesticides are in use in the U.S. annually, the number of regulated contaminants is minute.

The standards established by the EPA are expressed as the "Maximum Contaminant Level" or "MCL" which represents the maximum level at which the contaminant can be found in your drinking water and the water still be considered "safe". 

Needless to say, drinking water that is considered "safe" today may not be considered "safe" tomorrow when new standards may be established. 

And "safe"; may not meet your personal standards for healthy drinking water. 

In addition, contaminants -- such as Lead Trihalomethanes and Asbestos-- can occur in drinking water after the water leaves the water utility treatment plant.

EPA does not establish standards or testing protocol for drinking water treatment devices; the EPA refers consumers seeking assistance in evaluating water treatment devices to NSF International, a not-for-profit organization devoted to developing and administering programs related to public health. NSF's standards and criteria are used internationally for consumer products and services, including drinking water treatment units.

‘Acceptable’ contamination levels of water are measured by two standards: maximum contaminant level (MCL) and maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG).

The goal indicates the level of contaminant at or below which is considered safe for human consumption. However, given the size of most water systems, today’s technological limitations, and the costs involved with water purification, it is impossible to provide the masses with water at or below goal level for all contaminants.

Because of these difficulties, the MCL standard was created as a compromise between public safety and feasibility, dictating levels that must be met before water is distributed to the public. This level is usually within 5% of acceptable contaminant range.