Water Analysis Medicines

Test your drinking water for pharmaceutical residues

With the Medication Water Analysis, you can have your drinking water tested in a laboratory for 12 selected pharmaceutical substances. These include antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, and a medication used to treat epilepsy.

Pharmaceutical residues can enter rivers, lakes and groundwater through wastewater. Depending on the water source and treatment process, some substances may also be detectable in drinking water. As these residues generally cannot be detected by appearance, smell or taste, targeted laboratory testing is required to identify them.

How do pharmaceutical residues enter drinking water?

After medication is taken, some of the active substances and their breakdown products are excreted through urine or faeces and enter wastewater. Improper disposal of unused medicines can also contribute to contamination.

Wastewater treatment plants do not completely remove all pharmaceutical residues. Some substances can therefore enter the environment and, under certain conditions, affect water resources used for drinking water production.

Whether these substances are present in drinking water, and at what concentrations, depends on various factors. The Medication Water Analysis provides targeted testing for the selected substances in your water sample.

When is a Medication Water Analysis useful?

• If you regularly drink tap water and want to know whether it contains selected pharmaceutical substances
• If you use water from a private well or spring
• If possible pharmaceutical contamination of local water resources has been reported
• If you use drinking water to prepare baby formula and would like additional information about its quality
• If you want an independent laboratory test for selected pharmaceutical residues
• If you use tap water in a soda maker and want to learn more about its composition

What does the Medication Water Analysis examine?

The Medication Water Analysis tests your water sample for the following 12 pharmaceutical substances:

Antibiotics

• Clarithromycin
• Erythromycin
• Roxithromycin
• Trimethoprim
• Sulfamethazine
• Sulfamethoxazole

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs

• Ibuprofen
• Diclofenac

Antiepileptic drugs

• Carbamazepine

Hormones

• Oestrone
• 17-α-Ethynylestradiol
• 17-β-Oestradiol

The laboratory report presents the results for each substance in micrograms per litre (µg/L). The limits of quantification may vary depending on the substance.

Frequently asked questions about the Medication Water Analysis

Can pharmaceutical residues occur in Swiss drinking water?

Yes. Pharmaceutical residues can enter the environment through wastewater. Under certain conditions, individual substances may also be detected in water resources used for drinking water production. Actual concentrations depend, among other factors, on the water source and treatment process.

Can you taste or smell pharmaceutical residues in water?

No. At the concentrations usually encountered, pharmaceutical residues generally cannot be detected by the taste, smell or appearance of water. Even water that appears normal may contain traces of these substances.

Is drinking water containing pharmaceutical residues harmful to health?

Detecting a pharmaceutical substance does not automatically mean that there is a health risk. The assessment depends on factors such as the substance involved, its concentration and long-term exposure. Relevant specialist authorities can provide guidance on the health significance of individual results.

Does this analysis test for all medications?

No. The Medication Water Analysis covers only the 12 substances listed above. Other pharmaceuticals, their breakdown products and other organic trace contaminants are not included.

Are bacteria, PFAS or heavy metals also tested?

No. This analysis focuses exclusively on the listed pharmaceutical substances. Bacteria, PFAS, heavy metals and other water constituents are not examined. Separate water analyses are required for these parameters.

Is the analysis also suitable for well water and spring water?

Testing water from private wells or springs can also be useful if possible contamination with the selected pharmaceutical substances needs to be investigated. However, a comprehensive assessment of drinking water quality requires additional chemical and microbiological tests.

How long does the Medication Water Analysis take?

The usual processing time is 2–3 weeks. Once the analysis is complete, you will receive a laboratory report containing your results.

Have your drinking water tested for pharmaceutical residues

With the Medication Water Analysis, you receive information about the possible presence of 12 selected pharmaceutical substances in your water sample. The laboratory report helps you understand the results and determine whether further investigation may be necessary.

Note: This analysis examines only the 12 substances listed above. The results apply to the submitted water sample and do not constitute a complete assessment of drinking water quality or its safety for human consumption.