Do you drink water from the tap or do you buy bottled water?  Although it may seem ridiculous to have to pay for something that is free, it seems it may be the best thing for you.  According to an Associated Press investigation, U.S. manufacturers, including major drugmakers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water — contamination the federal government has consistently overlooked.

The Associated Press discovered federal and industry officials say they don’t know the extent to which pharmaceuticals are released by U.S. manufacturers because no one tracks them — as drugs. But a close analysis of 20 years of federal records found that, in fact, the government unintentionally keeps data on a few, allowing a glimpse of the pharmaceuticals coming from factories.  As part of its ongoing PharmaWater investigation about trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, AP identified 22 compounds that show up on two lists: the EPA monitors them as industrial chemicals that are released into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water under federal pollution laws, while the Food and Drug Administration classifies them as active pharmaceutical ingredients.  The data don’t show precisely how much of the 271 million pounds comes from drugmakers versus other manufacturers; also, the figure is a massive undercount because of the limited federal government tracking.

This is not the first investigation that the Associated Press has conducted on our drinking water.  Last year, they reported that trace amounts of a wide range of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in American drinking water supplies. Including recent findings in Dallas, Cleveland and Maryland’s Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, pharmaceuticals have been detected in the drinking water of at least 51 million Americans.  Most cities and water providers still do not test. Some scientists say that wherever researchers look, they will find pharma-tainted water.

Of course, our utility companies say the water is safe.  And scientists, doctors and the EPA say there are no confirmed human risks associated with consuming minute concentrations of drugs.  HOWEVER, those experts also agree that dangers cannot be ruled out, especially given the emerging research.

Well, at our home, we filter our water, but now I’m starting to wonder if that’s even enough!  I might have to start buying water again.  7DayBuzz readers, what do you think about this?