Presentation Abstract

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Efforts To Reduce Pharmaceuticals That Enter the Water Reclamation Plants
Catherine O’Connor, Thomas Granato, and Richard Lanyon
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Cicero, IL

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) is aware of the potential threat to the water environment associated with discharge of pharmaceutical materials to the sanitary sewer system. The District has taken action in a number of ways regarding this emerging issue.

This presentation will review the efforts the District has taken to reduce pharmaceuticals that enter our collection system. The District has issued press releases regarding this matter to alert the public about the potential threat posed by improperly disposed antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals. The District also has contacted the American Medical Association, drug store chains, and independent drug store associations requesting that they issue advisory letters to medical practitioners. The District also is a co-sponsor of household hazardous waste collection events held periodically throughout the metropolitan area at which residents are encouraged to discard their unused prescriptions.

Given the fact that this is an emerging issue, attempting to quantify the types of compounds and their range of concentrations has been part of the District’s efforts, working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in cooperation with universities. The District has cooperated with sampling of water reclamation plant influent, wastewater processing streams, and effluent to understand the concentration and fate of certain classes of chemicals. This presentation also will include the results of all work completed to date.

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