Yesterday, Southern Nevada Water Authority Public Information Officer Corey J. Enus explained the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s current methods for screening pharmaceuticals from the water supply, even in the most minuscule amounts. Today, he goes into more detail about how SNWA protects the Las Vegas water supply.
"Aside from its Water Quality Compliance Lab, the SNWA has its own world-renowned Research & Development team that participates in dozens of studies exploring a wide range of topics.
"The team's goal is to improve the quality of Southern Nevada’s drinking water by:
• Investigating novel treatment technologies
• Enhancing regulatory compliance
• Understanding the occurrence, fate, transport, formation and health effects of emerging contaminants (trace amounts of pharmaceuticals, soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, etc., that find their way into the water supply)
"The Water Authority looks beyond regulations to improve water quality and enhance the protection of customers from waterborne illness. From comprehensive water-quality testing programs to innovative projects designed to explore health effects and new treatment technologies, SNWA is committed to improving both water quality and water-treatment methods. The R&D Team has helped develop patented technology and undertaken many external research grants, solidifying SNWA's international reputation as a leader in leading-edge research. SNWA’s researchers have published peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented research data as invited speakers around the globe.
"The focus areas of SNWA’s Applied Research and Development Center include the following:
• Occurrence monitoring, fate and transport, formation and treatment of constituents in water reuse and drinking water systems such as:
◦ Pharmaceuticals
◦ Endocrine-disrupting compounds
◦ Personal care products
◦ Nanoparticles
◦ Disinfection byproducts
• Bench and pilot-scale testing of conventional and novel physical, chemical and biological treatment technologies
• Full-scale process optimization and performance evaluations
• Development of analytical methods for quantification of newly identified contaminants and disinfection by-products in water
• Identification of novel contaminants present in impacted waters and produced in water reuse and drinking water systems
• Study of natural organic matter composition and properties
• Investigation of the topography and composition of surfaces
"Southern Nevada's water meets or surpasses all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. In 2016, Water Authority laboratory staff members:
• Collected more than 56,400 water samples
• Conducted more than 287,600 analyses
• Monitored water quality in 'real time' 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Tested for more than 91 regulated and 75 unregulated contaminants
So if you have any worries about flushed prescription drugs showing up in your drinking water, rest easy. The SNWA is on the job."
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Will Ranger
Jan-05-2018
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