- Location
- North Yorkshire
And we wonder why chemicals are getting banned 
Spraying near a drinking water supply
- Thread starter Cows 'n grass
- Start date
- Location
- sw scotland
Scottish gov advice is 50m for persistent chemicals. Roundup can last a few days to months depending on the soil.
I do not do any spraying but still need a record and a plan of fields and water. A bit worrying that there is conflicting advice here considering someone must have been on a course
The glyphosate labels I've looked at only specify 1m from the top of a ditch bank i.e. 2m from a water body. No mention of drinking water. There's cross compliance to consider too - 2m from the centre of a hedge. Reading the OP again, the neighbour is worried that you've contaminated his water supply but there's no detail on where this water is.
I'm wondering why the OP can't simply post a picture of said hedge /area, then better information could be given to help elevate his concerns (unless of course there is visible water, then a different story)?
And we wonder why chemicals are getting banned
It is a real eye opener, isn't it...
Yep, hence lots of speculation about consequences, risk of contamination etc.
ollie989898
Member
I did think I had never heard of any specific legislation regarding pesticide application and drinking water supplies. Certainly in the case of manures the buffer is 50 metres from a borehole but pesticides is a grey area.
- Location
- South Wales UK
Risk Assessments ,due diligence been around for ever?
Last edited:
Personally, I believe it does not state drinking water per se, is that one should assume that water courses can potentially end up in drinking water supplies (rivers, streams, ponds running into reservoirs etc)....
Or it could be that you can drink the stuff as noted earlier - so they don't need to mention it
I'll get my coat....
Or it could be that you can drink the stuff as noted earlier - so they don't need to mention it
I'll get my coat....
ollie989898
Member
How do any of us complete that?? I dont have a scoob about the potential of any pesticide to enter a drinking water supply underground nor its actual environmental fate. Who here is qualified to make that judgement??
You do not need to be an expert, just prove you have taken all surrounding areas into your equation before spraying is how I would interpret conducting a RA.
At least if EA etc come knocking on your door, it shows you had the presence of mind to do a due diligence assessment of the areas as far as was practicable.
Bogweevil
Member
People why are you not referring to the vital document that should be on all your desks - Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products?
Groundwater (the law describes this as ‘all water which is below the surface of the ground and in direct contact with the ground or soil’) can be contaminated by pesticides. There are some circumstances when using an approved pesticide correctly may present a risk to groundwater. For example, if a water table is near the surface, or there is thin soil, very sandy soil or cracked limestone bedrock, pesticides may move rapidly through the ground and enter groundwater. This type of contamination may be of particular concern when the groundwater is feeding a drinking water supply. • In general, you should not use long-lasting pesticides and pesticides that can spread within any area designated as a ‘source protection zone’ (SPZ) I or within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole. • In SPZ I areas, you should carefully consider using any pesticide, especially on quickdraining surfaces such as gravel, hardstandings and similar areas. • You should also take special care to protect groundwater when using pesticides in areas further away from springs, wells and boreholes but still within their ‘catchment areas’ (these areas are designated SPZ II and SPZ III). • If there is a public water supply nearby, you may need to restrict your pesticide use over a larger area.
6.5 Records of environmental risk assessments A record of any environmental risk assessment should include: • the name of, ...hich may be relevant when you use pesticides in certain situations (for example, when using a pesticide in or near water); and • details of any nearby springs, wells or boreholes or groundwater source protection zones within the treated area, and the action you need to take to prevent contamination of groundwater.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/re...lant_Protection_Products_-_Complete20Code.pdf
I suspect that your neighbour could report this incident to HSE/CRD: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/enforcement/reporting-incidents.htm
Groundwater (the law describes this as ‘all water which is below the surface of the ground and in direct contact with the ground or soil’) can be contaminated by pesticides. There are some circumstances when using an approved pesticide correctly may present a risk to groundwater. For example, if a water table is near the surface, or there is thin soil, very sandy soil or cracked limestone bedrock, pesticides may move rapidly through the ground and enter groundwater. This type of contamination may be of particular concern when the groundwater is feeding a drinking water supply. • In general, you should not use long-lasting pesticides and pesticides that can spread within any area designated as a ‘source protection zone’ (SPZ) I or within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole. • In SPZ I areas, you should carefully consider using any pesticide, especially on quickdraining surfaces such as gravel, hardstandings and similar areas. • You should also take special care to protect groundwater when using pesticides in areas further away from springs, wells and boreholes but still within their ‘catchment areas’ (these areas are designated SPZ II and SPZ III). • If there is a public water supply nearby, you may need to restrict your pesticide use over a larger area.
6.5 Records of environmental risk assessments A record of any environmental risk assessment should include: • the name of, ...hich may be relevant when you use pesticides in certain situations (for example, when using a pesticide in or near water); and • details of any nearby springs, wells or boreholes or groundwater source protection zones within the treated area, and the action you need to take to prevent contamination of groundwater.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/re...lant_Protection_Products_-_Complete20Code.pdf
I suspect that your neighbour could report this incident to HSE/CRD: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/enforcement/reporting-incidents.htm
- Location
- South Wales UK
How did chap find out in the start then,?
ollie989898
Member
I don't know. Are springs or boreholes marked on OS maps?
Has the chemical been detected in the water? I think a lot of us are pretty confused because of the information provided. I have never been able to quote pesticide guidelines in their entirety nor were they required in full in either my BASIS or PA cert examinations.
- Location
- South Wales UK
The occupiers, landlord or tenant ,engaging spray contractor or doing it themselves should know the land?
Think porkies going on somewhere???
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Well you seem willing to put your opinion forward even though you don't know what you're talking about
No change there, then.
ollie989898
Member
Christ no, I'm way more comfortable talking about stuff I know nothing about. The day I start talking about something I know about I'd have to start charging for the fact. I'm only here to follow your example and consume your erudite and insightful posts with gusto.
- Location
- South Wales UK
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Didn’t the OP say the Spring was the other side of a hedge, on someone else’s land?
Are we all to have a wander round our neighbour’s fields in order to map them? Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to know there was a Spring there, and possibly not then if it’s a piped Spring that’s covered over, as drinking water ones usually are.
But why not let the TFF Kangaroo Court try the case. Guilty in my book, send him down.
- Tags
- glyphosate pesticide