PPCPs In Water Reflect Demographic Shifts

The latest evidence that wastewater systems hold valuable information: New research shows that drug residue in wastewater seems to shift according to demographic changes.

Christine Vatovec, a researcher at the University of Vermont, found that the concentration of drugs in water shifted as the population in the city shifted, according to the Burlington Free Press. She sampled water at a Burlington wastewater treatment plant for 10 days in 2014. The sampling dates occurred as students left town.

“She could see a difference in the mix of drugs as the days went on. She saw antivirals in the water go down and ulcer medication go up. She saw a spike of antihistamines that correlated to a rise in pollen count,” the report said.

Vatovec said the best way to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water may be reverse osmosis systems. "It's not yet been considered something necessary," she added, per the report.

The Burlington wastewater plant was built a century ago, according to the news article.

“Burlington has three wastewater plants that treat raw sewage... We treat domestic and industrial sewage to levels that ensure public health and the biological integrity of the waters that receive discharges from these facilities. The end product is highly treated water which must meet stringent federal standards,” the city explained.

“Burlington is also unique in that stormwater for much of the City is collected and treated at the Main Plant on Lavalley Lane prior to discharge into Lake Champlain,” it continued.

The research was conducted at the plant that discharges into Lake Champlain.

This issue of drug residue in water is hardly new. Water Online reported several years ago: "It has long been known that there are trace amounts of PPCPs (pharmaceutical and personal care products) that escape our wastewater treatment plants and end up in waterways, including drinking water sources."

"Though unregulated, PPCPs are on the EPA’s radar via the Third Contaminant Candidate List (CCL3) and the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) — precursors to possible regulatory action," the report said.

To read more about PPCPs visit Water Online’s Contaminant Removal Solutions Center.