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Tap water safety tests ordered by Defra

29/09/2008

Tap water is safe to drink, the government has insisted, after it emerged a new study is planned to assess whether drugs are contaminating supplies.

A Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said "there is no question about its safety" following a report in today's Independent newspaper revealing the new tests.

Concerns are growing because of the number of drugs which are finding their way into Britain's waterways after being flushed down the toilet.

Scientists have been asked to test river water where it is extracted for human consumption by the government. 'Cytotoxic' drugs, used to combat cancer, are of particular concern because these can be excreted without being altered.

"This new study will provide new information to support… a previous risk assessment which concluded there was no significant risk to human health," the spokesperson said.

She added the Drinking Water Inspectorate regulates and audits the safety of tap water, which is itself routinely monitored by the water companies.

"Routine testing happens all the time and the law states that the water cannot contain any compound potentially harmful to human health."

Small traces of cytotoxic drugs which may not harm ordinary adults could affect infants in the womb. But analysts do not expect to uncover drug levels in drinking water which could amount to any significant danger.

Alistair Boxall of the Central Science Laboratory in York told the Independent: "The vast majority of pharmaceuticals probably pose a very small risk to human health. I find it hard to believe they will have any effect – you would have to drink so much water to get anywhere near a viable dose."