A Notice to Water Customers
From the Director of Water Utilities

Because of significant advancements in technology and processes, pharmaceutical compounds in tiny amounts are able to be detected in source waters. Pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products are being found at low levels in many of our nation's lakes, rivers, and streams.

For this reason, Arlington, as a respected leader in the water industry, is reviewing and monitoring all scientific research being conducted about this issue. The AWWA Research Foundation has been gathering data for the past four years, and we will continue to monitor their findings to determine any and all necessary modifications to our treatment processes as information evolves.

In our daily environment, we regularly consume and expose ourselves to products containing pharmaceutical compounds in much higher concentrations through medicines, food and beverages. The level in which they are being detected in our drinking water is extremely small in comparison. They are tiny and far below the levels of a medical dose. They are detected in part per trillion, which is equivalent to a drop of water in a reservoir the size of 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, six feet deep.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to maintain the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), which identifies contaminants in public drinking water that warrant detailed study. Currently, the list does not include any personal care products or pharmaceuticals.

Arlington is a city that remains proactive on issues concerning public health and safety. The actions of our mayor, who is also a physician, is leading us to do more comprehensive testing and further research of our treatment processes as more scientific research is conducted.

The Arlington Water Utilities Department remains dedicated to protecting our water. We utilize state-of-the art technology to treat our city’s drinking water to the highest standard of quality.

Learn about Proper Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (pdf)

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