Protecting Drinking Water from Pesticides

Drinking water monitoring results for Ireland show that a number of commonly used pesticides are being detected more frequently in recent years. Carefull storage, handling, use and disposal  of pesticides are important to ensure safe drinking water. 

Pesticides is a broad term which encompasses various types of pest control agents including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, seed dressings and rodenticides 

How do pesticides get into drinking water? 

Pesticides can enter water bodies from: 

• Point sources – leaks from storage areas; spills or drips from handling operations such as mixing, filling and washing equipment; or
• Diffuse sources – releases that occur during or after application, such as spray drift, runoff or drainage inputs. Water bodies are particularly vulnerable to runoff or washoff inputs from hard or compacted surfaces  

DOs when using pesticides: 

• Read the product label instructions carefully and plan the treatment in advance, taking care to ensure strict compliance with the specified conditions of use. Follow all health and safety instructions.
• Inform yourself of the location of all nearby water bodies (ditches, streams, ponds, rivers, lakes and springs).
• Find out if any groundwater body or surface water body in your locality is used as a drinking water source and, if so, the location of the nearest abstraction point. Ensure compliance with the safeguard (no-use) zones around drinking water abstraction points.
• Ensure that the pesticide products are stored in a secure, dry area which cannot result in accidental releases to drains, wells or water courses.
• Ensure that any pesticide application equipment used is properly calibrated and in good working order.
• Take every precaution during mixing and preparation of pesticides for application to avoid spills and drips. Minimise water volumes (rain and washings) on the handling area.
• Consider using drift-reducing nozzles if spraying. Keep the spray boom as low as possible to the ground and use the coarsest appropriate spray quality.
• Clean and wash down application equipment at the end of the day, preferably in the field and well away from water bodies or open drains. Tank washings should be sprayed onto a previously sprayed area, on a section far away from any water body, observing the maximum dose for that area.
• Ensure that empty, triple-rinsed containers and foil caps are disposed of in accordance with the Good Practice Guide for Empty Pesticide Containers.

Read also:

• Protecting Drinking Water from Pesticides (PDF)
• Herbicide Use in Grassland (PDF)
• Advice for Farmers and Other Professional Users (PDF)
• Advice for Gardeners and Household Users (PDF)

DAFM

• Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD)

Background Information

• National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (PDF)
• European Communities (Plant Protection Products) Regulations S.I. No.159 of 2012 (PDF)
• DAFM Presentation on SUD – September 2013 (PDF)

 Triple rinse procedure (PDF)