Traces of pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water of some American cities, but local water authorities say that while they're not testing for medicines, this area probably does not have the problem.

Because most of Anniston's water supply is spring water, natural filtration of the water would prevent medicines from remaining, said Jim Miller, general manager of the Anniston Water Works and Sewer Board.

Miller said the problem is more evident in cities or counties that use water pulled from a river with a wastewater treatment plant upstream.

"Pharmaceuticals are in such small, minute amounts in the water that modern-day treatment plants are not designed to get that out," Miller said.

A five-month-long analysis by the Associated Press National Investigative Team determined that minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking-water supplies used by at least 41 million Americans.

Roger Hall, general manager of the Calhoun County Water Authority, said he hears about the problem periodically at training sessions, but that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has not mandated testing for pharmaceuticals in water supplies.

"We aren't monitoring for them, but we have a healthy eye open for it and a lot of respect for them," he said. "We just haven't seen anything yet brought up to make us overly concerned."

Wayne Livingston, general manager of the Oxford Water Works and Sewer Board, agreed that the natural filtration of the water would eradicate medicines from the supply.

"Being filtered through the earth would take care of it," he said. "The Lord filters it."