A new UK National Rivers Authority (NRA) leaflet helps farmers prevent pesticide contamination in water. Advice is given on safe storage, mixing, use and disposal. The NRA has detected small amounts of pesticides which can be extremely damaging to water, fish and other aquatic life. Soakaways are not an acceptable method of disposal because of the risk of groundwater contamination. For unavoidable waste, the NRA recommends:
use up small quantities on another field
set aside an area of land of minimal wildlife value away from watercourses
an on site waste water treatment plant
store safely in a suitable container and arrange disposal by a reputable contractor.
Agricultural Pesticides and Water, National Rivers Authority, 30-40 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TL.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 23, March 1994, page 17]