**GAO-11-346**                      Published: Aug 08, 2011. Publicly Released: Sep 08, 2011.                  

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## Highlights

Drinking water in some metropolitan areas contains concentrations of pharmaceuticals, raising concerns about their potential impact on human health. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, in public drinking water systems if they may adversely affect human health among other criteria. Pharmaceuticals may enter drinking water supplies from several pathways, including discharge from wastewater facilities. GAO was asked to provide information on the (1) extent to which pharmaceuticals occur in drinking water and their effects, if any, on human health; (2) U.S. and other countries' approaches to reducing their occurrence; and (3) challenges, if any, that EPA faces in determining whether to regulate pharmaceuticals. GAO reviewed federal and peer-reviewed reports, and surveyed a nonprobability sample of five U.S. programs designed to properly dispose of pharmaceuticals. We selected these programs based on geographic diversity and program characteristics. We also researched such programs in two countries, and interviewed scientists and agency officials.

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David Trimble
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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

AntibioticsContaminantsEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesFederal regulationsHealth hazardsInteragency relationsPotable waterPublic healthRegulatory agenciesSafe drinking waterWastewaterWater pollution controlWater qualityWater supply