Because the concentrations at which EE2 and other pharmaceutical compounds affect animals are so low (part per trillion levels), the economic cost of regulation will be high. The authors estimate that, for the 1,400 wastewater plants that would need upgrading in England and Wales alone, the cost would be more than $45 billion. Ultimately we consumers would pay for regulated compounds such as EE2 with higher water rates. This is a serious discussion we need to be having.