Drugs in Drinking Water

The report is part of JRC efforts dedicated to investigating the implications of antibiotics in water.©bluedesign, adobe stock 2019

Is water safe?

Pharmaceutical wastes have recently been discovered in the drinking water of communities worldwide. Even a very low level of pharmaceutical waste in water could pose a health threat to humans.

Drugs in drinking water

According to Drinking Water Analysis Summary 2018 from the City of Toronto, the amount of caffeine present in water was 0.0311 micro-grams per litre.

Methods to treat contaminated water.

Distillation treatment removes most of the dissolved materials from water. Similarly, the boiling process kills biological contaminants.

Although treatment can remove many contaminants, it can also leave behind byproducts that may themselves be harmful (such as trihalomethanes)

Career: Water Quality Specialist

Water Quality Specialists take samples from water and analyze them to ensure that they reach minimum safe levels for public and environmental health.

Water Quality Specialists must understand the properties of water and pollutants that might damage an ecosystem. They may also work with the government to aid decision making regarding water usage.

Explore the Career
Bathing water samples are analysed by Environment Agency specialists
Picture by Fiona Wren, EPt

Water Quality Specialist: Job descriptions, salary and job demands.

Specialist with bottle of pure water at a water factory

Responsibility

  • Perform water system quality.
  • Operation of equipment and other tools
  • Inspect and test the water.
  • Controls water system tools and equipment for safety and mechanical defects.

Salary

The average salary for environmental specialists is $67,460.

People in positions of some authority with most experience can make up to $99,260.

Job demands

It is expected that demand for all environmental specialists (including water quality specialists) to increase by some 11% in the years between 2014 and 2024.

References

CATTANEO, B. (2019, March 26). Antibiotics in water and the risk of drug-resistant bacteria. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/antibiotics-water-and-risk-drug-resistant-bacteria.

Water. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2019, from https://www.ontariogenomics.ca/industry-solutions/water/.

Drinking Water. (2018, September 11). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/drinking-water.

What Is a Water Quality Specialist? (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/water-quality-specialist.