New York State’s attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, has reached a settlement under which five hospitals and nursing homes agreed to stop flushing pharmaceutical waste that could potentially contaminate New York City’s water supply.

The five health care sites, in Delaware and Putnam Counties, had been flushing painkillers, antibiotics, anti-depressants, hormones and other pharmaceuticals into sinks and toilets, Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference on Tuesday.

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http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/five-sites-agree-to-stop-flushing-pharmaceutical-waste/