Chicago tests water for drugs

The city of Chicago is testing the waters of Lake Michigan for the presence of pharmaceutical drugs and is vowing to the post the results on the Internet.

The decision to test Lake Michigan water is a reversal of the city's position a month ago, when the water commissioner said the city would not test unless ordered to do so by federal regulators.

Department of Water Management commissioner John Spatz said the city decided to conduct its own studies last month. But city officials did not want to publicly reveal the policy change until they had results.

Spatz says the region's drinking water is safe to drink. However, he acknowledged there are growing concerns about effects on health from even low levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking water.

Spatz says the city is looking for 76 compounds in the first round of tests.