Contaminated Drinking Water

There is growing concern about contaminated drinking water from excreted drugs. Estrogen from the Birth Control Pill for example, is found in municipal sewage and inevitably, our watershed. These pharmaceuticals are having an impact on wildlife as reported in a CBC article by Aly Thomson called Birth Control Pill Threatens Fish Populations. The article describes an experiment that exposed Fathead Minnows to small amounts of Estrogen. The results showed sudden crashes in the minnow's population with ecosystem implications. Most disturbing was that the male fish started to produce eggs after Estrogen exposure. This article suggests that the problem of drugs in our waterways can be solved with better wastewater treatment. Currently, Huntsville is in the process of upgrading its sewage treatment plant. Depending on which process variation is adopted, our plant could have the potential to filter or prevent Estrogen and other pharmaceuticals from entering our waterways and ultimately our drinking water. The article can be found here http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/birth-control-pill-threatens-fish-populations-1.2796897 For more information on Huntsville's wastewater treatment facilities and upgrades see District of Muskoka's website http://www.muskoka.on.ca/content/water-and-sewer