How to keep pharmaceuticals out of our water

The Florida Dept.of Health sent out a timely announcement today. With all the news about pharmaceuticals in our drinking water and watersheds, FDOH is reminding us you shouldn’t flush those pills you didn’t take. Nor should you pour your liquid medication down a drain. Instead, medications should be discarded in household trash.

FDOH says many medications contain compounds also known as microconstituents that may be found in very low concentrations in surface water, ground water, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, reclaimed water, and other waters. Pharmaceuticals in water is not a new topic, but State Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros acknowledges, “Current media coverage on the topic may prompt concern among consumers. So far, these chemicals have been found at extremely low concentrations and current research has not demonstrated an impact on human health at the trace levels at which they have been found.”

It’s important to know how to dispose of meds. To properly dispose of unwanted household medications, FDOH advises:

oKeep the medicines in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested.
oMark out your name and prescription number for safety.
oFor pills, add water or soda to start dissolving them. For liquids, add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper.
oClose the lid and secure with duct or packing tape.
oPlace the bottle(s) inside an opaque container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle.
oTape that container closed.
oHide the container in the trash. Do not put in the recycle bin.

Disposal of unwanted medications from commercial facilities such as pharmacies, medical facilities and veterinary operations are subject to different regulations than those that apply to medications from household uses. Those commercial facilities should contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Management, for guidance.

For more information on the proper disposal of unwanted medications, visit these pages at FDEP.

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