Proper Drug Disposal

New Jersey American Water Encourages Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Dec. 16 -- New Jersey American Water is advising its customers to properly dispose of unneeded prescription drugs, so that unused medication does not enter the public water supply.


The company is joining the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies to raise awareness of the potential impact that improperly discarded pharmaceutical products could have on drinking water. Customers should not dispose of drug patches (birth control, nicotine, etc.) or other medical products in the toilet or down the drain. A list of approved disposal sites can be found by visiting http://www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.org/

"The importance of properly disposing of medical and pharmaceutical products is something that all of our customers may not be aware of," said John Bigelow, president of New Jersey American Water. "We can all help prevent potentially harmful substances from being placed in our water supply."

Currently, there are no EPA approved methods for testing for pharmaceuticals in water and there are no federally-certified laboratories to do the testing. American Water has conducted research since the late 1990s and has participated in four research studies to examine the presence in source water and drinking water. The research has determined that low levels identified in drinking water are not harmful to public health based on available data and EPA guidelines. American Water supports the development and standardization of EPA-approved analytical tests for pharmaceuticals in water.

New Jersey American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada.

SOURCE New Jersey American Water