Washington, D.C. – In response to an Associated Press investigation that found trace quantities of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of 41 million Americans, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) today called upon the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a national taskforce to investigate this situation and make recommendations to Congress on any legislative actions needed.

Congresswoman Schwartz released the following statement along with her letter.  

“Like many, I was taken aback this morning to hear that the drinking water of over 41 million Americans contains quantities of pharmaceuticals. On a local level, it is particularly upsetting that 56 different pharmaceuticals were discovered in the drinking water for the City of Philadelphia.  

“The EPA should establish a national taskforce to not only investigate this situation, but make recommendations to Congress on what actions must be taken to protect public health and the environment.“

“All Americans deserve nothing less than clean, safe drinking water, and the EPA has a responsibility to investigate this matter.” 

A copy of the letter sent by Congresswoman Schwartz to the EPA follows below.

The Honorable Stephen Johnson
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Johnson,

I am writing to express my strong concerns raised by the March 9, 2008 Associated Press report which found that trace quantities of pharmaceuticals have been discovered in the drinking water of 41 million Americans. Like many Pennsylvanians, I was especially taken aback by the finding of 56 different pharmaceuticals discovered in the drinking water for the City of Philadelphia. I writing to request that your agency create a national taskforce to address this problem and report to Congress on what actions must be taken to protect public health and the environment.

Every American deserves access to clean, safe drinking water. Since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the United States has experienced a significant improvement in the quality of our drinking water. This law has helped to significantly reduce industrial pollution and other contaminants, but the recent revelations that traces of pharmaceuticals are present in the water supply demonstrate that more must be done to improve water quality.

The Associated Press report raises serious questions about the safety and security of America’s water system. I am especially concerned about the lack of information known on the potential for pharmaceuticals in the water to bio-accumulate in humans or potentially decrease the effectiveness of antibiotics or other life-saving medicines. That is why I request that the EPA, in a timely manner, establish a national taskforce comprised of federal, state, and local government officials, industry representatives, and environmental organizations to investigate this situation and make recommendations to Congress on any legislative actions needed.

I request that you respond to my letter no later than April 1, 2008 with a detailed explanation of the actions that your agency intends to take to address this issue.

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