NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok, so the title is a bit alarmist, but read on.

My grandfather died recently, and the event made me aware of a rather...interesting...goverment law. When a person on medication dies, the attendant nurse/doctor/whomever is required to dispose of all of that person's pills (In my grandfather's case this ammounted to several pounds). There are two interesting facets to this beaurocratic blade.

-Firstly: that even sealed packages of pills are destroyed, rather than recycled. Well, perhaps they can justify that, but I'd buy sealed pills on discount, providing they were sold seperately and properly labelled as "used".

-Secondly-and this is the good bit-: The only legal way to dispose of these pills is to flush them down a toilet. Now, I'm aware that the total contribution to water contamination is minimal, but seriously, is this just STUPID, or am I missing something?

-Secondly-and this is the good bit-: The only legal way to dispose of these pills is to flush them down a toilet. Now, I'm aware that the total contribution to water contamination is minimal, but seriously, is this just STUPID, or am I missing something?

Doesn't matter much. It's not like our drinking water comes from the sewers...

Doesn't matter much. It's not like our drinking water comes from the sewers...
*cough* Waste water treatment plants *cough*

*cough* Waste water treatment plants *cough*
yeah....our drinking water still doesn't come from those places, and they are properly disposed of from that point (if thrown in the garbage, people often pick through it.

Also, once something leaves store shelves, there is no way to prove they have not been tampered with. People can buy the machines to reseal a package, and that is why it is illegal.

yeah....our drinking water still doesn't come from those places, and they are properly disposed of from that pointInto waters like rivers and lakes and such which public water is retrieved from.

Into waters like rivers and lakes and such which public water is retrieved from.
after being filtered, processed,then dumped, diluted by the massive amount of water, then filtered again when taken up

Into waters like rivers and lakes and such which public water is retrieved from.

Exactly.

Look, people. If we didn't recycle our water this way, we'd have no need for water treatment plants. Along with that, our water supply would already be down the shitter (pun intended).

Exactly.

Look, people. If we didn't recycle our water this way, we'd have no need for water treatment plants. Along with that, our water supply would already be down the shitter (pun intended).
the issue is that, when just thrown out, people dig in the trash looking for medical supplies and drugs. When flushed, there is virtually no chance for someone to find them, and they are disposed of at the waste treatment plant. Also, the pill bottles are sealed atleast to some extent (most, if not all, are somewhat waterproof) so they don't add to contamination.

the issue is that, when just thrown out, people dig in the trash looking for medical supplies and drugs. When flushed, there is virtually no chance for someone to find them, and they are disposed of at the waste treatment plant. Also, the pill bottles are sealed atleast to some extent (most, if not all, are somewhat waterproof) so they don't add to contamination.

I was never denying that this method of disposal was good (because it is). I was just stating that we use recycled water, and why.

Water from waste water treatment plants (the finished product) is cleaner than anything you can find in any river or stream. It is really drinking water quality.

It's just getting past that mental *EWWW* factor...

-Secondly-and this is the good bit-: The only legal way to dispose of these pills is to flush them down a toilet. Now, I'm aware that the total contribution to water contamination is minimal, but seriously, is this just STUPID, or am I missing something?

it's actually quite detectable and gets into the environment. though they get there just by being injested normally too.

I was never denying that this method of disposal was good (because it is). I was just stating that we use recycled water, and why.
ahh...sorry. I thought you were going along the lines of we shouldn't dispose of them this way because we drink that water again...my bad.

Doesn't matter much. It's not like our drinking water comes from the sewers...

Don't be too sure. It still goes back into our drinking water suply after treatment. And all those septic systems slowly release their water into the ground water supply. Drugs ARE showing up in our drinking water. It's not in massive ammounts yet, but it is increasing.

From the Christian Science Monitor:

What's disturbing is what's showing up in the water: industrial chemicals, human and veterinary drugs, feces, natural and synthetic hormones, microorganisms, detergents, and even fire retardants. Water companies do not yet test for most of these substances, and their effects on health and the environment are largely unknown.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1230/p14s01-sten.html

.

America recycles water? Eww. Australia collects rainwater from dams. I think.

America recycles water? Eww. Australia collects rainwater from dams. I think.
every industrial country filters waste water, returns it to the sources, and uses it again. Even if it is from man made lakes, there is still used water in it.

All the water on the planet was at one time in some Animal's urine. Nature is its own recycler. Get over it. Just like your hot dog was once the inside of a Cow's butt, and your Corn was grown with either Cow or human manure. Yes human. We spread "sludge" over crops. The sun's UV rays kill the bacteria, or so we are told.

All the water on the planet was at one time in some Animal's urine. Nature is its own recycler. Get over it. Just like your hot dog was once the inside of a Cow's butt, and your Corn was grown with either Cow or human manure. Yes human. We spread "sludge" over crops. The sun's UV rays kill the bacteria, or so we are told.

I know all that. But... geez. At least let your piss become rain again before drinking it.

I know all that. But... geez. At least let your piss become rain again before drinking it.
fish live in water. Need I even say more?

also, incase anyone was curious (and we all know you are) you can drink your urine three times unfiltered before it becomes toxic.

fish live in water. Need I even say more?

also, incase anyone was curious (and we all know you are) you can drink your urine three times unfiltered before it becomes toxic.

Still don't wanna drink that... >_>

fish live in water. Need I even say more?

also, incase anyone was curious (and we all know you are) you can drink your urine three times unfiltered before it becomes toxic.
Well, to be honest I w3as never curious. But thanks for sharing that tidbit with us anyway. Though I am now curious as to why you're so certain it's three and not, say four or five?
I would like to add that I will now never accept an invite to a cocktail party at your place.

Well, to be honest I w3as never curious. But thanks for sharing that tidbit with us anyway. Though I am now curious as to why you're so certain it's three and not, say four or five?
I would like to add that I will now never accept an invite to a cocktail party at your place.
well there was this time where I *mumbles* and then I had to go and *truck passes* and well, yeah. You would have done the same...right?


Or, ya know, had a strange science teacher back in high school who gave us fun info like that vomit leaves your mouth at 436 mph.

And I'm a good bartender (unless you piss me off. Then it's urine cocktails all the way.)