There have been no pesticides found in drinking water in Laois in 2019 or 2020.
This, according to Irish Water, is ‘very good news’ but they are asking farmers and gardeners to be mindful when using pesticides.
The utility is urging domestic gardeners, farmers, grounds keepers and other users of pesticide products to consider the environment and whether pesticide use is necessary in the first instance.
MCPA is an active substance present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control the growth of thistles, docks and rushes and remains the most commonly detected pesticide in Ireland.
However it often ends up in drinking water supplies. Irish Water is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products in Laois to consider the vulnerability of the water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to the local homes and businesses in the community.
Andrew Boylan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist, said: “In Laois, there have been no exceedances for pesticides in the past two years which is good news.
“While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels of pesticides that are being detected in drinking water supplies across the country do not represent a threat to public health, it is however undesirable and therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”
Recent drinking water monitoring results for Ireland show that a number of active substances contained in herbicide products used in agriculture, amenity and gardens, such as 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, glyphosate, MCPA, mecoprop and triclopyr, are being regularly detected across the country.
But thankfully none of these have been discovered in Laois in the last two years.
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