Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants and sex hormones in drinking water of 41 million Americans

According to the Associated Press:

"A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, far below the levels of a medical dose but the long-term consequences to human health are unknown."

The pharmaceutical industry points out the amount of medication in the water supply is the equivalent of a single pill in an Olympic-size swimming pool. Still, if you a have glass of water in Philadelphia, you are drinking tiny amounts of at least 56 medications.

CNN has a map of the affected metro areas and a video explanation of how drugs end up in tap water.

The Wikipedia article about drinking water comments on the "Tap Water vs Bottled Water" debate: "Many large corporations and some water companies are now making an effort to promote tap water over bottled water. The mayors of San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis signed a pledge to promote tap water over bottled water as part of the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign."

References:
AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water. Associated Press.
Drugs in water causing troubling problems to fish, wildlife. CNN.
In U.S., bottled water lacks drug safeguards. CNN.
Faucet image source: OpenClipArt.org (public domain).