pesticides in domestic drinking water catchments
In Victoria, Friends of the Earth has been investigating the use of pesticides in domestic drinking water catchments. Our report from May 2008 provides the first ever comprehensive assessment of pesticide use and its possible impacts on our drinking water supplies.
new report on pesticides in domestic drinking water catchments in Victoria
Friends of the Earth Melbourne and National Toxics Network have released a major survey report on Pesticides in Surface Waters of Domestic Water Supplies under the control of Victorian Water Authorities. It identifies major concerns about pesticides in drinking water and makes a series of recommendations for land managers.
There is little monitoring of agrochemicals in surface waters in Victoria. Water authorities have the best set of information in Victoria about pesticides in drinking water, but in many cases even this is most likely woefully inadequate.
Between 2006 and 2007, Friends of the Earth, through Freedom of Information requests, gained access to some of the records of the State's Water Authorities mainly covering the years 1998-2007, and was surprised at the lack of information supplied by authorities.
Pesticides detected in Victorian domestic water supplies included some such as 2,4-D, which is classified by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as a Class 2B carcinogen - possibly carcinogenic to humans. 2,4-D is also known as an endocrine disruptor.
Many of the organochlorines had been banned for some time yet residues remain in sediment, which can be mobilised during rainfall (most of the pesticides detected are known endocrine disruptors).
Only one pesticide pollution incident was reported above the Australian Drinking Water Health Limit, with sixteen coming in above the Australian Drinking Water Guideline Limits. The most at risk water supplies, according to the limited FoI information, appear to be the two open aquaduct systems which flow into the Wurdee Boluc Reservoir and into the Stony Creek Reservoirs managed by Barwon Water. The Broken Creek system managed by Goulburn Murray Water, which supplies the communities of Nathatalia and Numurkah also appears to be at some risk as do some communities relying on channel water in northern Victoria. The longest duration pollution incident reported in the past decade occurred in the Moorabool System (Barwon Water) with the herbicide Hexazinone, associated with weed control in pine plantations, leaching at low volumes for almost 3 years. The pesticide was detected 50km downstream.
Less than one third of pesticides used in domestic water supplies are tested for at all. With Melbourne's water supply potentially most at risk, Melbourne Water is currently testing for less than 1% of pesticides used in the Upper Yarra catchment.
This report provides extensive information on the presence of these pesticides, as well as making recommendations to land managers.
It is available as a PDF here.
Friends of the Earth Melbourne and National Toxics Network have released a major survey report on Pesticides in Surface Waters of Domestic Water Supplies under the control of Victorian Water Authorities. It identifies major concerns about pesticides in drinking water and makes a series of recommendations for land managers.
There is little monitoring of agrochemicals in surface waters in Victoria. Water authorities have the best set of information in Victoria about pesticides in drinking water, but in many cases even this is most likely woefully inadequate.
Between 2006 and 2007, Friends of the Earth, through Freedom of Information requests, gained access to some of the records of the State's Water Authorities mainly covering the years 1998-2007, and was surprised at the lack of information supplied by authorities.
Pesticides detected in Victorian domestic water supplies included some such as 2,4-D, which is classified by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as a Class 2B carcinogen - possibly carcinogenic to humans. 2,4-D is also known as an endocrine disruptor.
Many of the organochlorines had been banned for some time yet residues remain in sediment, which can be mobilised during rainfall (most of the pesticides detected are known endocrine disruptors).
Only one pesticide pollution incident was reported above the Australian Drinking Water Health Limit, with sixteen coming in above the Australian Drinking Water Guideline Limits. The most at risk water supplies, according to the limited FoI information, appear to be the two open aquaduct systems which flow into the Wurdee Boluc Reservoir and into the Stony Creek Reservoirs managed by Barwon Water. The Broken Creek system managed by Goulburn Murray Water, which supplies the communities of Nathatalia and Numurkah also appears to be at some risk as do some communities relying on channel water in northern Victoria. The longest duration pollution incident reported in the past decade occurred in the Moorabool System (Barwon Water) with the herbicide Hexazinone, associated with weed control in pine plantations, leaching at low volumes for almost 3 years. The pesticide was detected 50km downstream.
Less than one third of pesticides used in domestic water supplies are tested for at all. With Melbourne's water supply potentially most at risk, Melbourne Water is currently testing for less than 1% of pesticides used in the Upper Yarra catchment.
This report provides extensive information on the presence of these pesticides, as well as making recommendations to land managers.
It is available as a PDF here.
