Pharmaceuticals and endocrine substances in the water: Poorly investigated

approx. 50% of the tap water in Germany is potentially loaded with pharmaceuticals and endocrine substances.

The water supply of the German population is carried out to approx. 50% out of groundwater. The remaining 50% are withdrawn out of the shore filtrate by rivers. Since the toilet waste runs down the rivers, a hydraulic connection exists between our toilets (waste water --> sewage plant --> rivers, shore filtrate --> purification of drinking water --> water supply pipe) and our faucets.

Like the nutrients,  medicine and hormones are excreted mainly via the urine. In the sewage plants they are inadequately treated and find their way, again into the shore filtrate. Also the drinking water conditioning plants cannot eliminate these substances completely. As of yet, the long-term effects on humans and aquatic biotopes are unfortunately not sufficiently investigated , however, first examinations give reason for serious worries.