- Playing
- Drugs in the Drinking Water
- From
- KQED
What's in that water coming out of your tap? Increasingly sophisticated tests detect contaminants we couldn't have even measured ten years ago. But just because something's there, does that mean it's harmful?
Find out what's in your local tap water here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/10/pharma.water1/index.html#cnnSTCOther1
This piece builds on an AP report showing that many water districts around the country had tested and found minute amounts of common over the counter and prescription drugs.
This story takes it one step further: What are federal officials doing about this, and should we be concerned?
Also in the QUEST series
Condor Rescue
(00:04:57)
From: KQED
A condor refuge recovers after a wildfire, and volunteers prepare for a dramatic release.
Why Don't Kids Learn Science Anymore?
(00:04:39)
From: KQED
Despite high-tech hubs like Silicon Valley, California's science literacy is in steep decline.
Waiting for California's High Speed Rail
(00:08:08)
From: KQED
Getting from San Francisco to LA in two-and-a-half hours -- and a $10 billion ticket price
Sea Lion Rescue
(00:05:03)
From: KQED
A mysterious bacterial infection is sickening the West Coast's sea lions.
Rethinking Air Conditioning
(00:05:30)
From: KQED
Why your central AC unit sucks way more juice than it should
Related Pieces
Piece Description
What's in that water coming out of your tap? Increasingly sophisticated tests detect contaminants we couldn't have even measured ten years ago. But just because something's there, does that mean it's harmful? Find out what's in your local tap water here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/10/pharma.water1/index.html#cnnSTCOther1 This piece builds on an AP report showing that many water districts around the country had tested and found minute amounts of common over the counter and prescription drugs. This story takes it one step further: What are federal officials doing about this, and should we be concerned?
Broadcast History
Aired twice during "B" Segment of Morning Edition on KQED and KQEI, 7/11/08.
Transcript
It?s surely a sign of the times that a laboratory used to test drinking water would be so high-security, we can?t even tell you exactly where it is.
SCOTT: This is our lobby area and it is a secure facility.
Jim Scott is the water quality lab manager for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, based in San Jose. He swipes a key card to lets us into the district?s new, $18 million testing lab, which opened this spring.
SCOTT It is secure BEEP because of the nature of the work that we do and the nature of chemicals we have here in the laboratory? (continue, fade under)
This lab will be a command center should terrorists ever strike California?s drinking water supply. Ditto, if any other water-borne contaminant starts making people sick. But the real bread and butter work done here is much more mundane than that. It?s the daily testing for things like mercury, lead, e. coli - conta...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
SUGGESTED HOST INTRO: What?s in that water coming out of your tap? Increasingly sophisticated tests detect contaminants we couldn?t have even measured ten years ago. But just because something?s there, does that mean it?s harmful? From KQED in San Francisco, Amy Standen reports on one contaminant we?re learning more about: pharmaceuticals, like ibuoprofen and birth control pills. And what we might do about it.
Related Website
Of 3 purchasers of this piece...
- 3 also bought:
Hidden Children of the Holocaust (00:06:13) - 3 also bought:A Shortcut To The Mountaintop (00:29:27)
- 3 also bought:
Credit Crunch and Money for College (00:04:57) - 3 also bought:
365 Holidays with the Canadian Brass (00:59:59) - 3 also bought:
Boxing for Girls (00:04:49)
Paul Quamahongnewa
Posted on October 16, 2008 at 10:24 AM | Permalink
Review of Drugs in the Drinking Water
We should worry abut drugs in our drinking water. We all want clean water and we do not want to get sick. These discoveries were surprising because of prescription and over the counter drugs are being flushed down the toilet because of expired prescriptions and ending up in our drinking supply. The discoveries were found in many water districts around the country and has risen questions if the water is safe. I think it is scary that the drugs found in tap water and we should find alternatives for discarding drugs rather than flushing it down the toilet.