Protecting Water from Pesticide Use
What are Pesticides?
Pesticides is a broad term, encompassing plant protection products (e.g. weedkillers), biocidal products and certain veterinary medicine products. Pesticides include; organic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematocides, algicides, rodenticides, slimicides, related products and their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction products.
Whether these contaminants pose a health risk depends on how toxic the pesticides are, how much is in the water, and how much exposure occurs on a daily basis.
Pesticides are used across a variety of sectors including forestry, agriculture, horticulture, transportation (e.g. railways and roadside verges), amenity (such as golf courses, sports parks and public parks) and industry as well as by domestic users in the home and garden.
What are the risks?
Using, storing and disposing of pesticides in the wrong way can cause harm. Mismanaging pesticides can pollute surrounding environments and our drinking water sources.
Drinking Water in Monaghan is abstracted from rivers, lakes and groundwater sources. Drinking water monitoring results show that a number of herbicides commonly used on grassland, such as MCPA, are being detected more frequently in recent years.
Careful storage, handling, use and disposal of pesticides are important to ensure safe drinking water.
How can Pesticides get into water bodies?
- 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 and in poorly draining land areas.
Leaflets containing advice are below:
- Advice for Farmers and Other Professional Users
- Herbicide Use in Grassland
- Advice for gardeners and Household Users
For more information regarding pesticides used in Agriculture and Horticulture click the link : Sustainable Use Directive
Click here to view : Scotstown Blue Dot Project
Guidance Documents and Information
Below you will find a range of guidance documents and information leaflets on how we all can prevent the pollution of our groundwaters and surface waters in County Monaghan.
Septic Tank and other Wastewater Treatment Systems Guidelines (PDF)
Septic Tanks Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Household Small Buisness Wastewater Treatment Record Sheet (PDF)
Water Pollution and Drainage Systems (PDF)
Water Pollution Prevention and Farmyards (PDF)
Water Pollution Prevention and Landspreading Practices (PDF)
Water Pollution Prevention and Silage Effluent (PDF)
Water Pollution Prevention Outwintering Practices and Riparian Zones (PDF)
The Transport and Use of Poultry Manure Best Practice (PDF)
Wetlands not Wastelands and Pollution Prevention from Construction sites (PDF)
Water Pollution Prevention Best Practice for Business Premises (PDF)