Great care must always be taken to protect drinking water supplies wherever pesticide use is considered necessary, particularly if using products for grassland weed control containing substances such as MCPA, Glyphosate, fluroxypyr and 2,4-D.
These substances and others have been detected in drinking water supplies across Ireland, according to Irish Water, which stated the detected levels sometimes exceed the legally permitted limit for pesticides in drinking water, which is set at an extremely low value (equivalent to one drop in an Olympic-sized swimming pool ).
Irish Water, working in partnership with a range of organisations involved in the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG ), is providing advice and guidance to all users of pesticides including the farming community, greens keepers and grounds keepers and domestic users, to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking waters are always followed.
Irish Water stated: "Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of tackling rushes should note that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM ) has developed new guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. The new approach is based on the concepts of containment or suppression, and aims to minimise the use of pesticides. More information on this can be obtained from your local farm advisor or on www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/waterprotection
"Newport Public Water Supply which sources its water from the Newport River, is currently on the EPA’s RAL and Direction list, this is due to persistent exceedances for MCPA and Glyphosate over a four month period (May, June, July and August ) in 2019. This public water supply scheme also had pesticide detections prior to 2019.
"On a more positive note, three public water supply schemes in Mayo which had previous pesticide exceedances were closed out in 2019. These were Westport, Louisburgh and Kiltimagh Public Water Supplies which all had previous exceedances for the pesticide MCPA.
"Efforts to reduce the incidence of detections are being coordinated by the NPDWAG which is chaired by the DAFM. 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."
Commenting, Pat O’Sullivan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist, said: "At a time of significant challenges for farmers and other essential workers managing land we are asking everyone to continue to be mindful to protect the water bodies.
"While MCPA accounted for the majority (63 per cent ) of pesticide exceedances detected nationally in public water supplies during 2019, Irish Water routinely tests for a wide range of pesticides and is closely monitoring the situation for pesticides other than MCPA. Irish Water is continuing its extensive investment programme to safeguard the water supply for homes, farms and businesses in Ireland.
"Providing safe, clean drinking water for all is our first priority. In Ireland, the majority (82 per cent ) of drinking water supplies come from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes and streams. Supplies such as the Newport Public Water Supply are vulnerable to contamination from land and animal run-off. Irish Water asks users of pesticide products in these catchment areas to consider the vulnerability of these drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of this supply to the local community.”
Dr Aidan Moody, Chair of the NPDWAG commented: "A lot of good work has been done and progress has been made. The continued engagement of all stakeholders, working in partnership, is needed to make further progress. Users of pesticides should always consider in the first instance if there are alternative non-chemical weed/pest control methods that would be feasible. If pesticides have to be applied users must make sure that they are aware of and follow best practice measures to protect water quality.”
Irish Water added: "MCPA, which is commonly used to kill rushes on wet land, is the main offender, however, other pesticides such as 2,4-D, fluroxypyr and MCPP (also known as mecoprop ) are being detected more frequently than in previous years. Careless storage, handling or improper application of any pesticide product can easily result in traces ending up in drinking water, leading to breaches of the drinking water regulations. Users of pesticides are asked to carefully consider how these products may access water courses via rainwater drains, drainage channels or other means before application.
"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, particularly near lakes and rivers used as drinking water sources.
"If pesticides have to be used, the basic steps in reducing 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 three times into the sprayer and (9 ) Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly."
