There are no antibiotics in the standard indicators of drinking water testing in China

The major rivers in the country, the Huangpu River, the Yangtze River estuary, and the Pearl River have all been detected with antibiotics. Among them, the Guangzhou section of the Pearl River is highly contaminated by antibiotics. The content of anhydrous erythromycin, sulfadiazine and sulfamethazine is 460 nanometers. g/l, 209 ng/l and 184 ng/l, far above the 100 ng/l level in developed rivers in Europe and America. In addition, residents of Nanjing, Anqing, Tongling, Fuyang, and Handan also detected antibiotics in tap water.

Immediately after the news began to draw attention, the skeptics said, “Isn’t it better to drink water if I catch a cold?” and “Will the citizens drink drinking water rich in antibiotics every day?” This bizarre equation seems to be becoming a concern right now.

Viewing previous reports, it was found that similar news had been reported in May this year. At that time, relevant staff of the Guangzhou Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau responded to the “Pearl River water containing antibiotics” problem and said that “the surface water contains antibiotics and drinking water safety is not directly related to it. The source of drinking water is not normal surface water. The water plant will degrade and sterilize organic substances. In the process, the impact of antibiotics will be eliminated, and tap water will also be tested according to drinking water standards. Therefore, the public is relieved."

Unfortunately, such explanations have made it hard for the public to feel at ease in the current situation. Because of this media report, the public learned that there is simply no antibiotic indicator in China's drinking water testing standards!

This was disclosed by Nanjing Water Group in response to CCTV’s report that “Amoxicillin was detected in tap water from the residents of Nanjing Gulou District”. It stated that “There are no antibiotics detection standards in the 106 indicators of drinking water quality standards promulgated by the current state. The current quality of water supply fully meets the national standard."

Nanjing Water Group's response was suspicion of avoiding lightness, but it brutally led to the fact that the current drinking water testing standards do not check antibiotics, so the water plant can degrade and sterilize organic substances. It is difficult to say that the effects of antibiotics have been completely eliminated. It is impossible to judge whether the drinking water of the residents meets the standard of antibiotics, at least relying on the current drinking water testing standards.

At present, Nanjing Water Group said that it will immediately arrange for the entrustment of professional and authoritative institutions to sample the city's water supply area and carry out special antibiotic testing. After the results are announced, it will be announced. If Guangzhou does not use tap water as an antibiotic test, what will happen? At that time, the “Encourage the public to rest” the Guangzhou Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, is there any courage to stand up and give the public a certain amount of reassurance?

It seems that incorporating antibiotics testing into drinking water testing standards is an important issue that needs to be resolved in front of government departments. However, how to formulate standards for the content of antibiotics in water bodies, how to quickly popularize professional detection methods and equipment, and how to eliminate antibiotic contamination in drinking water of residents in a short period of time, these problems may not be solved overnight.

The situation is undoubtedly very severe: Antibiotics have not been specifically monitored or specifically dealt with. So, what should we do in the face of antibiotic contamination that has penetrated into surface water and even tap water? Although the environmental protection departments have stated that they must strengthen the control and treatment of antibiotics from the source of pollution, the three major sources of antibiotics are human excretion, wastewater discharged from pharmaceutical plants, and hospital medical wastewater, animal feed, and aquaculture. Difficulties are extremely high. If listed companies such as Shandong Lukang Pharmaceutical, which has a large amount of stolen antibiotic wastewater, are unable to control, it is even more difficult for such small-scale anti-doping activities to be effectively curbed.

The issue of exceeding the standard of antibiotics in surface water and drinking water has already sounded the alarm for public health and safety. How to avoid the nightmare of “drinking water = taking medicine” requires the government, the enterprise and even every individual to act together to find a way out.