by KYW's Kim Glovas
An investigation by the Associated Press finds that pharmaceuticals are in our water supplies.
Fifty-six prescription drugs were found in Philadelphia water samples, including medicines used for pain, seizures, mental illness, and infection. But Laura Copeland, spokeswoman with the Philadelphia Water Department, says federal law doesn't require that water be tested for these things:
"At the water department, we choose to look for these things because we want to stay at the forefront on this issue. At this time, there has been no human health hazard with these trace amounts. In fact, there has been evidence that there is no human health impact at this time."
Copeland says the trace amounts are measured in parts per billion or parts per trillion. She says the drugs enter the water supply through the waste water that has been treated. But she adds treatment facilities can purify the water, but they can't remove all of the drug residue.
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