The
UK water company Severn Trent Water says there have been some encouraging signs
in the levels of non-agricultural herbicide contamination of Midlands water
resources. This follows the Severn Trent Spraysafe Campaign, launched in 1992
(see PN22 p7) coupled with government restrictions on the use of water soluble
triazine herbicides, atrazine and simazine. The campaign hopes to promote
environmentally friendly methods of weed control via an integrated approach to
water pollution which involves: usage surveys; pesticide monitoring in raw
water; high profile water catchment protection measures; computer-based GIS
vulnerability assessment; water treatment technology.
A recent survey was carried out to assess the effectiveness
of the Spraysafe campaign. The herbicides most frequently found in drinking
water include: diuron; 2,4-D, atrazine, simazine and mecoprop. The survey
indicated that 95% of local authorities have direct control over the choice of
herbicide used. Direct control allows selection of products suitable for a
specific problem and minimal environmental impact. This prevents the
inappropriate use of potentially environmentally harmful substances from being
used. However, quality controllers at Severn Trent are concerned that a number
of local authorities were not aware of a ban on atrazine and simazine for
non-agricultural use which came into force in 1993. They strongly urge local
authorities who have atrazine and simazine in store to dispose of them in an
approved way.
Agricultural
concern
Despite the improvements in the non-agricultural
sector, agricultural pesticide contamination in the Midland region has remained
at the same level. Severn Trent hopes to achieve similar results in the
agricultural sector by adopting a similar integrated-type campaign. Results have
shown that the agricultural herbicides isoproturon and mecoprop in raw water
most regularly exceed EU standards. (DB)
For
more information: Quality and Environmental Planning, Severn Trent Water, 2297
Coventry Road, Birmingham B26 3PU, UK
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 26, December 1994, page 17]