Prescription Disposal Event

Every day medicines like antidepressants, blood pressure and diabetes medications, antibiotics and other drugs show up in the water supplies of American cities.

According to an Associated Press investigation, some 46 million Americans drink water contaminated with trace amounts of pharmaceuticals, which get into water stream after they pass through people's bodies and end up in wastewater. 

The wastewater is treated before it's released into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleaned again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.

The exact risks are not clear, but there is growing concern that the exposure to pharmaceuticals, even in small amounts, is dangerous for human health.

Now, the city is organizing a free event to "take back" all expired and unused pills, which will be held April 29 at the Senior Center 1-5pm.