Traces of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs have been detected in some of South Africa’s water sources, raising concerns among the public. However, health authorities are reassuring residents that these residues pose no risk to human health and cannot cause HIV infection.
The findings came from a recent study that analyzed various water sources across the country. It revealed that small amounts of ARVs—commonly used in HIV treatment—are entering the water system through municipal wastewater facilities. The drugs most often detected were lopinavir and efavirenz, with some concentrations found to be higher than recommended international levels.
The study also pointed out that most current wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to filter out these types of pharmaceutical compounds. As a result, ARVs were found in higher concentrations downstream from these facilities, suggesting that the treatment systems are failing to adequately remove them.
Despite these discoveries, officials maintain that the levels found in drinking water are very low and not harmful. The Department of Water and Sanitation emphasized that while the presence of ARVs is not ideal, the drugs themselves do not transmit diseases—they are used to treat them. That means there is no risk of contracting HIV from drinking water containing trace amounts of ARVs.
Experts have acknowledged the need for more research into the long-term impact of pharmaceutical residues in water, including the potential for antimicrobial resistance and environmental harm. However, there is currently no evidence suggesting ARVs in water affect aquatic life or pose an immediate threat to human health.
Globally, the issue of pharmaceutical contamination in water is gaining attention, with many countries facing similar challenges. These substances are typically found in extremely small quantities—measured in nanograms—and are not yet fully regulated due to the complexity of monitoring and removing them.
The government continues to investigate the matter and encourages the development of more advanced water treatment technologies to address these emerging concerns.