Just how serious a problem is it when pharmaceuticals are flushed down the toilet and get in the sanitary sewer system?

Nothing to lose sleep over, said state officials. But keeping them out of the system is not a bad idea either.

Residents came to the Lyons Township High School North Campus in La Grange Oct. 24 to get rid of bottles of pharmaceuticals and personal care products that have been taking up space unnecessarily in medicine cabinets and bathroom vanities.

The event, sponsored by Cook County Department of Environmental Control, the Cook County

Bureau of Health Services and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, was held to help divert thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from the waste stream through residential landfills or sanitary sewer systems.

Studies have shown some substances are surviving water treatment facilities and making their way into drinking water, county and state officials said.

Dave Walters, manager of the Waste Reduction Section of the IEPA, said residents should not be afraid to get a drink from the faucet.

“I don’t think there is anything people should be alarmed about,” Walters said. “All of the studies we have seen in terms of amounts are low for safety standards. There is certainly noting alarming about the water in Illinois at this point and certainly we hope to head off any future problems.”
Meanwhile, Walters said not flushing the old medicines will have long-term positive benefits.

La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub said the drop off program serves another important purpose — keeping medications out of the diversion drug market.

There have been incidents reported nationally where prescription drugs are either stolen from medicine cabinets or collected from trash, then sold on the street for illegal use, he said.

“To have a safe way to dispose of theses drugs is a good idea,” Holub said.

 According to a 2008, report, the IEPA found only trace levels of prescription drugs and determined no immediate public health risk in public drinking supplies as a result of pharmaceuticals.