Thomas Lyons 
Uisce Éireann and the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) have requested farmers to limit their use of pesticides to only where it is “strictly necessary” and after considering other control methods. According to the latest figures released by Uisce Éireann, there were 48 pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in Ireland last year. However, the group has made significant progress in reducing the impact of pesticide use on drinking water sources.
Uisce Éireann has prioritised four areas for action where recurring pesticide exceedances have been detected. These areas include Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Clonroche, Co. Wexford, Newport, Co. Mayo and Foynes Shannon Estuary, Co. Limerick. In a joint appeal issued by Uisce Éireann and the NPDWAG, farmers, greenkeepers, groundskeepers, and domestic users of pesticides have been asked to consider whether they need to use pesticides at all, and to only use them after careful consideration of other control methods. The group also advises that leaving areas unsprayed can help native flowering plant species to grow and support a range of insects including bees and other pollinators.
Farmers should keep in mind that the application of herbicides reduces sward species diversity and could negatively impact payments through agri-environmental schemes. Best practice measures must be followed to protect drinking water sources and biodiversity if farmers believe pesticide use is necessary. Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (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.
Uisce Éireann and the NPDWAG also highlighted that if a farmer chooses to use pesticides, basic steps should be followed to reduce risks to drinking water sources and the aquatic environment. These steps include choosing the right pesticide product, reading and following the product label, avoiding the use of pesticides if rain is forecast in the next 48 hours, being aware of the location of all nearby water courses, complying with any buffer zone specified on the product label to protect the aquatic environment, avoiding spills, staying well back from open drains, rinsing empty containers three times into the sprayer, storing and disposing of pesticides and their containers properly, and never filling a sprayer directly from a water course or carrying out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a water course.
The group stated that minimising pesticide use not only helps to protect water quality but also has multiple wider environmental benefits. Leaving areas unsprayed can help native flowering plant species to grow and support a range of insects including bees and other pollinators. Farmers should also bear in mind that the application of herbicides reduces sward species diversity and could negatively impact on payments through agri-environmental schemes. The group also advised that if farmers believe pesticide use is necessary, best practice measures must be followed to protect drinking water sources and biodiversity.
