(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.) America's latest
drinking problem isn't about alcohol. Concerned about the cost
of bottled water -- and its environmental consequences -- many
people are turning back to tap water to quench their thirst. But
as evidence mounts of contaminants in public systems, unease
about the water supply is growing. Engineers say that U.S. water
quality is among the world's best and is regulated by some of
the most stringent standards. But as detection technology
improves, utilities are finding more contaminants in water
systems. Earlier this year, media reports of trace amounts of
pharmaceuticals in water across the country drew attention from
U.S. senators and environmental groups, who are now pushing for
regulation of these substances in water systems. Of particular
concern, experts say, are endocrine-disrupting compounds --
found in birth-control pills, mood-stabilizers and other drugs
-- which are linked to birth defects in wildlife. Also alarming
are antibiotics, which i