We all use water everyday, but it may not be as pure as you think.

It's for that reason that pharmacies across Iowa are stepping up. And instead of just handing out drugs they're actually wanting them back.

The Iowa Take Away Program is designed to clean out medicine cabinets and prevent unsafe disposal of prescription medication, such as throwing them away or flushing them down the toilet. But what's the harm in doing that? Local water experts say...plenty.

Rick Mach with Sioux City Wastewater Treatment, says, "Sioux City was part of a study. We did evaluate the Missouri River. We did find heart medication, we did find some liver medications and we did find high concentrations of caffeine in the Missouri River water source.

And those concentrations, Mach says can eventually end up in your family's home via drinking water or bath water.

Mach says, "Wastewater treatment, just like water treatment can remove so much, but the technology is just not there to remove everything."

Over 300 pharmacies across the state are now accepting prescription meds as a family safety precaution and a step towards a cleaner environment. Hy–vee is one of those pharmacies.

Hy-Vee Pharmacist, Shane Schuster, says, "They will safely dispose of it so it's not harmful and won't get back into the environment, into the drinking water that there's a big concern of now."

Schuster adds that if everyone does their part, we can make for a cleaner and safer  place to live. Medicine cabinet fillers aren't only a threat to our water supply, many times they are to blame for teen drug abuse, addiction and overdose.