Pesticides detected in Glanmire and Youghal water supplies
Pesticide exceedances for MCPA and Triclopyr were detected in both the Glanmire and Youghal water supplies in 2021, as part of Irish Water’s public water supply monitoring programme.
The Glanmire water supply abstracts raw water from Coolquesk Bridge, Kilquana Bridge, Butlerstown and the Butlerstown river tributary, part of the Butlerstown River catchment; while the Youghal water supply abstracts raw water from the Glendine river.
According to Irish Water, MCPA is still the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water sources and is present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control thistles, docks and rushes.
Deirdre O’Loughlin, Irish Waters Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist, noted that the exceedances of the drinking water regulations in both water supplies were detected following routine sampling.
“While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels we are detecting do not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water and it is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives,” she said.
There was however, a significant reduction in the number of exceedances for pesticides in public drinking water supplies in Cork last year, according to Irish Water.
In 2020 the utility detected 6 exceedances in samples taken on 4 supplies (Bantry/ Cahernacrin (MCPA exceedance), Glanmire (MCPA, 2,4-D, Fluroxypyr and Mecoprop exceedances), Glashaboy (MCPA exceedance), Glengarriff (Triclopyr exceedance) as part of its ongoing monitoring, however, this had reduced to the two aforementioned for MCPA in 2021.
Irish Water is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products to consider the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to local homes and businesses in the community.
Irish Water, working in partnership with a range of organisations involved in the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG), is asking the farming community, greens keepers, groundskeepers, and also domestic users of pesticides, to consider in each case whether they need to use pesticides at all.
FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE
Dr Aidan Moody, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Chair of NPDWAG, said that continued engagement is needed from all stakeholders, working in partnership to make further progress.
“Users of pesticides must always consider alternatives in the first instance and if the application of pesticides is considered essential, make sure that they follow best practice measures to protect water quality,” he added.
Where pesticide use is considered necessary, the NPDWAG is working with local communities to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking water sources and biodiversity are always followed.
Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note the DAFM guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. This 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
The NPDWAG is chaired by the DAFM and involves key stakeholders from a range of Government departments and agencies, local authorities, industry representative bodies, farming organisations, water sector organisations and amenity sector organisations.