U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Public Water SuppliesProducts in Public Water Supplies

US Conference of Mayors: Mayors Water Council & US Conference of Mayors: Mayors Water Council & Sustainable Development Task ForceSustainable Development Task ForceJanuary 19, 2009January 19, 2009

Herb BuxtonHerb BuxtonUSGS Toxic Substances Hydrology ProgramUSGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program

2

• DrugsDrugs• DetergentsDetergents• AntioxidantsAntioxidants• Fire retardantsFire retardants• DisinfectantsDisinfectants• FumigantsFumigants• FragrancesFragrances• Insecticides/ Insecticides/

RepellantsRepellants

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)Care Products (PPCPs)

Chemicals that Chemicals that co-occur co-occur and have and have similar MOAsimilar MOA• Biogenic HormonesBiogenic Hormones• PesticidesPesticides• Industrial ChemicalsIndustrial Chemicals• Some Metals Some Metals • Natural hormonesNatural hormones• Natural antimicrobialsNatural antimicrobials• Degradation byproducts Degradation byproducts

3

USGS QuestionsUSGS Questions

• What contaminants have been found in What contaminants have been found in public drinking water in the US?public drinking water in the US?

• Where have they been found?Where have they been found?

• What levels have been detected?What levels have been detected?

• Do we have data on trends in terms of Do we have data on trends in terms of geography and levels?geography and levels?

4

Results of National Stream & Groundwater SurveysResults of National Stream & Groundwater Surveys

Present in water at Present in water at sub-ppb conc.’ssub-ppb conc.’s..

Present in Present in mixturesmixtures..

Greater levels in Greater levels in streams than wellsstreams than wells

Are PPCP’s entering our Are PPCP’s entering our environment? environment?

Kolpin, et al., 2002; Barnes et al., 2008Kolpin, et al., 2002; Barnes et al., 2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pe

rce

nt D

ete

cte

d

Surface (139) Ground (47)

Pre. d

rugs

Det

erge

nts

5

PPCPs in PPCPs in Source WatersSource Waters

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Per

cen

tag

e o

f su

rfac

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w

ith

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ecti

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a co

mp

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Surface-water sites; n=49

Ground-water sites; n=25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Per

cen

tag

e o

f su

rfac

e- o

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-wat

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ites

w

ith

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ecti

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of

a co

mp

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nd

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Surface-water sites; n=49

Ground-water sites; n=25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Per

cen

tag

e o

f su

rfac

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-wat

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ites

w

ith

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ecti

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of

a co

mp

ou

nd

in g

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p

Surface-water sites; n=49

Ground-water sites; n=25

P

erce

nt D

etec

tion

Surface WaterGround Water

Focazio et al., 2008Focazio et al., 2008

Explanation + GW (25) SW (49)

National Source National Source Water SurveyWater Survey

6

Natural Dilution and DegradationNatural Dilution and Degradation

Source Waters (Streams)Susceptible Streams

P

erce

nt D

etec

tion

Focazio et al., 2008Focazio et al., 2008

National Source Water SurveyNational Source Water Survey

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Removal in Treatment, NJ FacilityRemoval in Treatment, NJ Facility

Stackelberg et al., 2004 & 2007Stackelberg et al., 2004 & 2007

Raw WaterRaw Water

Per

cen

t D

etec

tio

n

HHCB

AHTN

Levels Generally Reduced by Levels Generally Reduced by Treatment with GAC FiltersTreatment with GAC Filters

Finished WaterFinished Water

P

erce

nt

Det

ecti

on

HHCB

Pharmaceutical/AntibioticFlame retardant/PlasticizerFragrancePesticidePlant/Animal steroidDetergent metabolitePAHsOthers

8

Benotti et al. 2008Benotti et al. 2008

PPCPs in Finished Drinking Water PPCPs in Finished Drinking Water

Conducted by Conducted by Southern Nevada Southern Nevada Water AuthorityWater Authority

Supported by AWWA Supported by AWWA Research Fnd. & Research Fnd. & WateReuse Fnd. WateReuse Fnd.

Pharm’sPCPs

42

19

18 182.1 470

93510

3

0.82 1000.33 1.2 25

15 Max. (ppt)

*12 of 20 Pharm’s not detected*12 of 20 Pharm’s not detected

Det

ecti

on

s

18 DW Facilities

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Finished Drinking Water Survey: Finished Drinking Water Survey: 2007-Present, USEPA & USGS2007-Present, USEPA & USGS

• Varied locations across the Nation.Varied locations across the Nation.

• Paired source/finished water samples.Paired source/finished water samples.

• Varied treatment types.Varied treatment types.

• Significant QA/QC to ensure reliabilitySignificant QA/QC to ensure reliability

• Working with water suppliersWorking with water suppliers

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Thank you!Thank you!

For more information:For more information:

http://toxics.usgs.gov http://toxics.usgs.gov

hbuxton@usgs.govhbuxton@usgs.gov