Any organization that handles prescription medications, from healthcare facilities to municipal governments to businesses, must be prepared for a growing problem—groundwater leaching. Over the last decade, studies have revealed a growing presence of pharmaceuticals in groundwater across the country. These chemicals pose risks to both human health and the environment, even in the low quantities they exist in, and contaminated groundwater has raised significant concerns among stakeholders, including regulators, producers, and the public.
The primary method of pharmaceuticals entering groundwater supplies is through leaching, the movement of contaminants carried by water down through permeable soil layers into groundwater sources. Groundwater leaching is a growing problem, and more federal and state authorities are taking steps to address the discharge of these chemicals through laws such as the federal Clean Water Act.
The largest focus of attention has been on healthcare providers, municipalities, and pharmaceutical producers who are responsible for the generation and disposal of large quantities of pharmaceutical waste. The issue is of greater concern for municipalities that often draw their water supply from groundwater sources.
Traditionally, most facilities disposed of unused or expired medication by simply flushing these pharmaceuticals down a sink or toilet; however, this allowed these wastes to enter surface waters and, as a result, groundwater. Because of this problem, the EPA has introduced new regulations prohibiting the sewering of these wastes, and more than ever before, stakeholders should take notice and introduce safe disposal procedures.
What Is Groundwater Leaching?
Groundwater leaching is the downward movement of contaminants through the soil and into the groundwater. This is a problem since groundwater does not dilute contaminants as quickly as surface water does. In fact, it may take tens to even hundreds of years for these chemicals to naturally be purified due to the lack of sunlight, cold temperatures, and other conditions affecting groundwater.
When facilities allow harmful chemicals to leach into groundwater, this can adversely impact the environment by exposing wildlife to a variety of biological and chemical contaminants. However, this can also be a particular problem for human life, given that one-third of the world’s population depends on groundwater for drinking water. Read more >
This post is related to:
Returns, Reverse Distribution
