Exceedances in pesticides are on the increase across Mayo with exceedances detected during 2018 in the Westport Public Water Supply, Newport Water Supply Scheme, Louisburgh Water Supply Scheme and Kiltimagh Water Supply Scheme.
While there is no threat to public health, it is imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when spraying their lands. Irish Water working in partnership with the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG ) is appealing to farmers and other users of pesticides to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking water quality are always followed.
Efforts to reduce the incidence of detections are being coordinated by the NPDWAG which is chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. All of the key stakeholders are represented in this group and include other Government departments and agencies; local authorities; industry representative bodies; farming organisations; water sector organisations; and amenity sector organisations.
These latest exceedances in Mayo follow on from previous exceedances noted in 2017 in Ballina Lisglennon RWSS, Kiltimagh WSS, Louisburgh WSS, Newport WSS and Westport WSS as well as low level detections in many other supplies.
Five different supplies in Mayo have seen the herbicide MCPA detected over the past two years, albeit mostly at very low levels.
Dr Aidan Moody, Chair of the NPDWAG commented: "The continued engagement of all stakeholders, working in partnership, is needed to tackle this issue. Users of pesticides should make sure that they are aware of the best practice measures that should be followed to protect water quality."
MCPA, which is commonly used to kill rushes on wet land, is the main offender. Careless storage, handling or improper application means it can easily end up in drinking water leading to breaches of the drinking water regulations.
The regulations are so stringent that a single drop of pesticide is enough to breach the drinking water limit in a small stream for up to 30 kilometres. This clearly highlights the level of care needed to protect drinking water sources.
Irish Water working in partnership with the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group would like to remind farmers and professional users of pesticides of the need to follow best practice in the application of pesticides such as MCPA on land, particularly near lakes and rivers used as drinking water sources.
The basic steps in reducing pesticide risks are: (1 ) Choose the right pesticide product (Note that products containing MCPA are NOT approved for use in weed-wipers. ); (2 ) Read and follow the product label; (3 ) Determine the right amount to purchase and use; (4 ) Don’t spray if rain or strong wind is forecast in the next 48 hours; (5 ) Make sure you are aware of the location of all nearby water courses; (6 ) Comply with any buffer zone specified on the product label to protect the aquatic environment. Mark out the specified buffer zone from the edge of the river or lake or other water course; (7 ) Never fill a sprayer directly from a water course or carry out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a water course; (8 ) Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains and rinse empty containers 3 times into the sprayer and (9 ) Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly.
Information leaflets on pesticide use are also available to download from the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/fodder-crops/
