WATER SECURITY RESEARCH GROUP

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

With advances in analytical technology traces of pharmaceuticals have been detected in surface waters, wastewater, groundwater as well as drinking-water in the last decade. Their presence in water, even at these very low concentrations, has raised concerns among stakeholders including drinking-water regulators, governments, water suppliers and the public, regarding the potential risks to human health from exposure to traces of pharmaceuticals via drinking-water. Therefore, this is an emerging issue which must be prioritized in the overall context of water safety management.


The primary objective of this study is to analyse how risk mitigation to reduce the extent of exposure to a risk to human health of pharmaceutical-contaminated drinking water can be integrated into the existing legislative framework in Malaysia.


The study is primarily qualitative in nature and is divided into three phases:


(i) The first phase involves literature review of past research relevant studies and Panel of Experts group discussion (FGD) to identify and analyse legal issues related to pharmaceutical contaminants and safe drinking water.


(ii) In the second phase, Classical Content analysis of the primary legal sources will be conducted to examine the extent of existing law provides for prevention of pharmaceutical contamination in water supply, removal of pharmaceutical residues during treatment and protection during water distribution.


(iii) The third phase also involves content analysis of the secondary sources to analyse how multiple-barrier approach can be integrated to the existing legislative framework to reduce potential exposure to pharmaceuticals in drinking-water.


The expected outputs of the study include identification of gaps within current legislation regarding the protection of public health from pharmaceutical-tainted drinking water and a proposed legislative framework to overcome the gaps. Outputs of the study are significance to help Malaysia develop a more comprehensive legislation to ensure our drinking water is safe from active pharmaceuticals ingredients (API) for public health.


CURRENT SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Data analysis of the primary legal data collected is still in progress. Based on the analysis progress so far, the results showed that Malaysian legislation have had some 'barriers' in the existing legislative framework, especially with regard to water sources protection, that can help ensuring pharmaceutical residues do not reach our tap water. The analysis progress so far also shows the difficulty to regulate pharmaceutical risks in drinking water due to their widespread use and various disposal routes.The various sources of these wastes include pharmaceutical wastes generated from healthcare facilities, livestock farming activities as well as from households. The existing laws on water protection were found to be insufficient in addressing risks from these aspects.Currently, the researchers are still undertaking analysis of the Federal and Selangor state laws related to water treatment and water distribution.