FISHER: TRANSPARENCY KEY TO ALLAYING PUBLIC FEARS, FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR PHARMA-POLLUTION IN WATER

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher today said the state's water utilities should voluntarily report levels of pharmaceutical-related pollution in New Jersey's water supplies to help calm public fears in the face of a recent national report that estimated 41 million Americans are drinking water contaminated by trace amounts of a variety of drugs.

Fisher today held a special hearing by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee - which he chairs - on the pharma-pollution issue. New Jersey is one of 24 major metropolitan areas in the country found to have medication including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones in its drinking water.

"People have a right to safe, clean, drinking water," said Fisher (D-Cumberland). "Just as  important, they have a right to know its contents. It is incumbent on water utilities and other agencies involved in the supply, regulation and quality control of water to inform residents of the presence of medication or other contaminants in their drinking water at any levels."

Fisher said he would continue to keep a close watch on possible health hazards to humans and the impact on wildlife, of traces of pharmaceuticals in the state's drinking water, and continue to explore possible long-term solutions.

The Assembly hearing was triggered by a five-month investigation by The Associated Press that found traces of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of more than 41 million Americans. The study also found water suppliers usually do not tell customers about the presence of pharmaceuticals in their water.

Some of the most detailed testing of drinking water that led to the discovery of traces of pharmaceuticals was conducted at the Passaic Valley Water Commission in North Jersey, where  a drinking water treatment facility removes sediments from water.

Agencies that testified at today's Assembly hearing included the state Department of Environmental Protection, the US Geological Survey, PhRMA, the Passaic Valley Water Commission, NJ American Water, NJ American Water Works Association, the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Environmental Federation.

Fisher said he was encouraged by the ability to test for contaminants in parts per trillion. He said while most testing focused on one chemical at a time, it was important for it to evolve to study the impact on human health and wildlife of a multitude of chemicals.

Fisher urged the public do its part to help reduce contamination of source water by responsibly disposing of no-longer-needed pharmaceutical products.

"No one should dispose of any unused pharmaceuticals by tossing them down the drain  or simply flushing them away," said Fisher. "We must be vigilant in reducing the amount of unwanted pharma-pollution in our water, not compounding what could be a growing problem."

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