Glyphosate amenity use and as an aquatic herbicide

[Flat 10]

I've read various things about glyphosate in water but of course its going to appear in water if its licensed as an aquatic herbicide and for use on non-porous surfaces such as railways and in roadsweepers. Do the authorities ever consider this? Got thinking about this as the environment agency apply it in knapsacks to the local river instad of using a weed bucket on a 360 which does a much better job.

 

[Lincsman]

Didnt think these uses were on the label now?

 

[B'o'B]

Didnt think these uses were on the label now?

202 glyphosate products listed as cleared for use on hard surfaces and 85 cleared for aquatic use on the CRD website

 

[Flat 10]

I just think its worrying when we will get blamed for them ending up in watercourses. You would have to have had a bad accident or been criminally negligent to get as much active in a watercourse as one tool from the EA with a knapsack in a river all day! makes one wonder how much we have been blamed in the past too as weren't atrazine and simazine used on railway lines? They are hardly likely to bind to soil particles and degrade there are they?

 

[Lincsman]

202 glyphosate products listed as cleared for use on hard surfaces and 85 cleared for aquatic use on the CRD website

I was thinking my Azural label.

 

[turbo]

I think British rail use to spray simazine of a train to control weeds on the line and next to it

 

[Princess Pooper]

On my PA1/PA6A spray course there were some bods from one of the contractor firms that does railway embankments etc. They seemed to resent being there because they felt nothing they used could do anything any harm 'we only use weedkillers'. (Got the impression they should have been on the course several years ago!!) As it runs through our farm, the railway is 5m away from an aquatic SSSI.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Is there not a different version of 'Roundup' for aquatic use?

 

[Philip Watkins]

Is there not a different version of 'Roundup' for aquatic use?

See @B'o'B post above. 85 different formulations licensed for aquatic use.
Didn't realise there were that many.

 

[Farmer Miggins]

Aquatic use is highly controlled, you have to submit a Form AqHerb01: Agreement to use herbicides in or near water to the EA in advance of the works for approval. Getting permission on flowing water needs all sorts of calculations to work out final dilutions etc. Oh, and you need PA6AW to spray on or near water - all of which needs to go on the form.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

I wouldn't think there are many PA6AW tickets about!

 

[Farmer Miggins]

There you go.......

 

[Flat 10]

I think a lot of the guys at the env agency have them. My point is one bloke with a knapsack will likely 'contaminate' a much bigger area than any runoff/drift from multiple careless operators.

 

[Farmer Miggins]

I think a lot of the guys at the env agency have them. My point is one bloke with a knapsack will likely 'contaminate' a much bigger area than any runoff/drift from multiple careless operators.

My point is that application on or near water is highly regulated and controlled, if you think the hoops for field spraying on farm is tough, you need to try amenity spraying.

I have seen a loaded farm sprayer tip over into a dyke and empty its contents, a small amount of un-targeted spray over water is minimal by comparison, and the flows, outfalls etc. are monitored where necessary by the EA at the time and after application

 

[Flat 10]

My point is that application on or near water is highly regulated and controlled, if you think the hoops for field spraying on farm is tough, you need to try amenity spraying.

I have seen a loaded farm sprayer tip over into a dyke and empty its contents, a small amount of un-targeted spray over water is minimal by comparison, and the flows, outfalls etc. are monitored where necessary by the EA at the time and after application

I'm not saying that its not regulated just saying that ANY aquatic use (and on non porous surfaces) is far more likely to lead to water contamination apart from a catastrophic accident (like your sprayer falling in the dyke example) and as such glyphosate should be banned from these uses IF levels in water really are a problem.

 

[Farmer Miggins]

I'm not saying that its not regulated just saying that ANY aquatic use (and on non porous surfaces) is far more likely to lead to water contamination apart from a catastrophic accident (like your sprayer falling in the dyke example) and as such glyphosate should be banned from these uses IF levels in water really are a problem.

It's found in water because it is so commonly used, you cannot pick and choose where it's used just because you think your need is greater

 

[Flat 10]

It's found in water because it is so commonly used, you cannot pick and choose where it's used just because you think your need is greater

Why not? Surely high risk activities could be banned? After all what is a buffer zone? Ensuring that you do not apply to a high risk area.

 

[turbo]

When ive seen them applying sprays to rivers out of a boat i must say it leaves a lot to be desired,they just seemed to put it on willy nilly.

 

[Laggard]

How much glyphosate to kill duck weed on a pond?