Farmersurgedto usebestpractice whenspraying

FARMERS in County Wicklow have been urged to adhere to best practice when spraying their lands after exceedances in pesticides were found in the Tinahely Water supply in the past two years.

The National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) and Irish Water have appealed to users of pesticides to be mindful when spraying this season. While there is no threat to public health, the presence of the herbicide MCPA in the Tinahely supply in 2016 and 2017 has prompted the appeal. MCPA is used mainly for eradicating rushes but it is also found in other weed killer formulations used by gardeners and growers, so its use is quite widespread.

Ahead of the 2018 spraying season, Andrew Boylan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist, has said that the nature of many water supplies makes them vulnerable to contamination.

‘In Ireland, the majority (82 per cent) of drinking water supplies come from surface water sources (water from rivers, lakes and streams). Such supplies are vulnerable to contamination from land and animal run-off,’ he said.

Improper storage, handling and application can all result in pesticides such as MCPA ending up in our drinking water leading to breaches of the drinking water regulations. A single drop of pesticide can breach the drinking water limit in a small stream for up to 30 kilometres. Drinking water monitoring results for Ireland show that a number of pesticides commonly used on grassland, such as MCPA, are being detected more frequently.

Dr Aidan Moody, Chair of the NPDWAG, has called for the continued engagement of all stakeholders, working in partnership, so that the issue can be properly addressed.

‘Users of pesticides should make sure that they are aware of the best practice measures that should be followed to protect water quality,’ he said.

The following guidelines have been issued by Irish Water and the NPDWAG: Choose the right pesticide product; Read and follow the product label; Determine the right amount to purchase and use; Don’t spray if rain or strong wind is forecast in the next 48 hours; Make sure you are aware of the location of all nearby water courses; 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; Never fill a sprayer directly from a water course or carry out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a water course; Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains and rinse empty containers three times into the sprayer; Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly.