This paper is significant for both the geoscience community and the general public. For geoscientists, the novel HydroFATE model provides an innovative tool to estimate and track the presence of household and pharmaceutical contaminants in the world's river systems, aiding in global pollution studies and environmental planning. For the public and media, it highlights the widespread issue of water contamination from commonly used substances, illustrating their potential impacts on environmental and public health. HydroFATE can inform decision-making across sectors - from water testing prioritization by local governments to ecological considerations by pharmaceutical companies, making it a compelling narrative for the media. The antibiotic sulfamethoxazole's use as a test case further links this work to global health discussions on antibiotic resistance.