Drugs in our water ‘can cause issues.’ Is it a pressing problem for Boise and Idaho?
When it made headlines earlier this year that sharks near Brazil had tested positive for cocaine, most people probably chuckled.
But it was more than just offbeat news — it shined a light on what could become a serious issue, which is the presence of drugs as an “emerging contaminant” in water, including in Idaho and the United States.
The amounts are not necessarily at a level yet that humans could be greatly affected, according to state officials, but there can be a profound impact on the environment.
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Surface and Wastewater Division Administrator Mary Anne Nelson told the Idaho Statesman that the concentration of drugs is “likely” low enough that when treated water gets mixed with river or reservoir water, it shouldn’t harm human health.
The same isn’t necessarily true for fish and other organisms, she said.
“Antidepressants and other medications have been found to alter the behavior of fish and invertebrates, potentially affecting feeding, predator avoidance and reproductive success,” Nelson said.
There is likely some concentration of drugs in bodies of water because many wastewater facilities can’t remove such substances, and even at small levels, the environmental impact could be profound.
One of the main concerns is the potential to increase antibiotic resistance. Plus, hormones like estrogen can alter gender ratios in fish, according to a Harvard newsletter.
All of the medication that Americans use, sometimes referred to as “pharmaceuticals,” are classified as a contaminant for our water. They get into the water a number of ways, and U.S. residents’ dependence on these drugs is well-chronicled.
A recent Penn State study found that an American born in 2019 would spend more time taking prescription medication than being married, and around 20% of older adults take five or more prescription drugs, The New York Times reported in a story this year.
“We have more people taking things,” Nelson said, but it’s still difficult to measure the drugs’ impact.
Drugs are designed to treat different conditions, of course, and survive in the water in different concentrations. There likely are way larger amounts of over-the-counter pain medications and antidepressants in the water than there are rare cancer drugs.
The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t set criteria for pharmaceuticals in the water, Nelson said, and the Idaho DEQ does not have a specific monitoring program.
But the issue still is getting attention.
“These emerging contaminants are a concern for a variety of reasons. They can cause issues in the environment. They can end up causing issues with human health,” said Clifford Swanson, University of Idaho assistant professor of environmental engineering. “It’s something that we are constantly improving our technology for treatment to help get rid of them.”
Finding their way into Idaho water
Drugs get into the water from humans in three main ways.
First, people often flush medication down the drain or toilet — which they should not do.
“Boise’s Water Renewal Facilities are not designed to remove illicit and prescription drugs,” city of Boise spokesperson Maria Weeg said in an email. “You should never put medications of any kind down the drain or toilet, and ... most wastewater treatment plants can’t, or don’t, effectively filter out such substances.”
Second, humans do not fully metabolize drugs, so they enter wastewater via bodily waste, Swanson said.
Third, these substances also can enter the water from agricultural runoff, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Antibiotics have long been a concern, because if they end up in the water at high enough levels and organisms are exposed to them, they can develop resistance.
“If you’re spreading antibiotic-resistant organisms, then it becomes harder to treat if you get an infection or something,” Swanson said.
During the initial part of wastewater treatment, large debris is taken out of the water, Nelson said. Then it goes into a primary treatment system that removes other debris. In the secondary part, bugs go in and eat the leftover waste.
There also is what’s known as a tertiary treatment system, which can pull out more of the drugs. However, it’s very expensive, Nelson said.
“Things are down to the molecular level,” Nelson said.
One type of tertiary treatment is called activated carbon. Brita filters, for instance, use activated carbon, but in a wastewater treatment process, it’s on a whole other level.
The city of Meridian has a tertiary filtration system, but it does not remove medication from the water. However, the city is in the process of upgrading to a more advanced technology that can remove “many types of pharmaceuticals,” spokesperson Stephany Galbreaith said in an email.
The upgrades were prompted by existing phosphorus removal regulations, she said.
The city of Nampa started tertiary treatment last month, spokesperson Amy Bowman said in an email.
“This process may remove a percentage of pharmaceuticals, depending on the specific chemicals involved, as they tend to attach to solids,” Bowman said. “It’s important to note that the removal of pharmaceuticals during treatment is an area of ongoing research across the nation.”
Drug take-back programs
Many cities and communities offer drug take-back programs to prevent unwanted medication from getting into water systems or on the streets.
The Caldwell Police Department is holding a drug take-back day on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 110 S. 5th Ave, spokesperson Char Jackson told the Statesman.
The Nampa Police Department will hold a drive-thru program that same day at the Walmart at 175 S. Middleton Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There’s also a drop box in the department’s main lobby near the elevator that can be used 24/7 for drug disposal, spokesperson Carmen Boeger said.
Meridian also will hold an event on Oct. 26 at 2130 W Franklin Road.
In Boise, people can drop off prescription medications at City Hall West on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to information from BPD spokesperson Haley Williams.
Medication dropoffs are available at several different locations in Ada County, including the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Meridian Police Department, Star Police Department and Kuna Police Department, according to Boise’s website.
