| Description |
Research studies indicate that drugs of abuse are prevalent in the water system and if not properly treated, could impact the environment and future societies that use reclaimed water as a drinking source. Although they are not currently regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it would be beneficial for wastewater treatment facilities to begin testing for drugs of abuse to determine what concentrations are present and the facilities' removal rates. This data could be used to help the facility begin to plan for additional treatment methods when the EPA implements regulation. Most treatment facilities are government based and have limited funding. A method to detect illegal drugs in the wastewater that is cost and time effective that does not require gaining permits from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will allow municipalities to begin testing and preparing for drug removal. Detection by immuno-assay is more affordable, less time consuming and does not require permits through the DEA for drug standards as do conventional detection methods. Wastewater samples collected from Salt Lake County sewer lines and Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility were tested for caffeine, cocaine, cotinine, methamphetamine, nandrolone, oxycodone, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The samples were processed and tested with Neogen Immuno-assay drug detection kits. The drugs caffeine, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and THC were detected at concentration ranges similar to those in other studies. The concentrations for cotinine and nandrolone were undetectable. Immuno-assays proved to effectively detect drugs of abuse in wastewater. |
