Immediate Release
National Association of Water Companies Statement Regarding
Associated Press Article
WASHINGTON, DC (March 10, 2008) – A
series of Associated Press articles began publication today;
it will reportedly continue through Wednesday. The articles
are on the occurrence of trace levels of pharmaceuticals
in drinking water. Peter Cook, executive director of the
National Association of Water Companies, issued the following
statement:
"Public health and meeting public health and environmental
standards established by government are the top priority of water utility professionals
and NAWC Members. This responsibility includes research into all manner of
compounds that can be found in water, including pharmaceuticals.
“Water is the universal solvent; virtually anything water comes in contact with will dissolve in it to some extent. Furthermore, advances in technology now allow us to detect the various compounds and substances at far lower levels than was possible even a few years ago.
“The current research – performed by governments and academics world-wide – strongly indicates that the trace levels of pharmaceuticals found in water are not having a demonstrable effect on human health.
“The interest in these issues is important; if for no other reason than we should not take our precious life-giving water for granted. And the awareness of the challenges facing utilities can only lead to safer water and better regulation.
“NAWC members stand ready to work with government to address these issues and continue to comply with all health and environmental regulations."
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About National Association of Water Companies
The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) represents all aspects of the private water service industry. The range of our members’ business includes ownership of regulated drinking water and wastewater utilities and the many forms of public-private partnerships and management contract arrangements. NAWC members are in every region of the country and range in size from large companies owning and/or operating many hundreds of utilities in multiple states to individual utilities with only a few hundred customers. For more information about the NAWC, visit www.nawc.org.
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