Increase in presence of pesticides in water supplies

Pesticide users have been urged to be vigilant to protect drinking water supplies ahead of the warmer weather expected over the coming weeks and months.
It comes after there has been an increase in the number of drinking water supply samples that have exceeded the legal limits for pesticides.
Uisce Éireann's public water supply monitoring programme found that of the 34,000 samples tested last year, pesticide levels exceeded legal limits 66 times.
This figure is up from 52 exceedances in 2023. However, overall, the trend is down by more than 50% since 2017.
The River Dee in Co Louth runs through one of the areas where Uisce Éireann has detected recurring pesticide levels that are above the legal limit.
Uisce Éireann also announced that two other catchment areas have been identified where recurring pesticide exceedances have been detected.
These are Hacketstown, Co Carlow and Foynes Shannon Estuary in Co Limerick.
The utility has said while the pesticide levels detected in areas such as these do not pose a risk to public health, it is advising all stakeholders to stay vigilant to protect drinking water supplies.
As a result, catchment-based focus groups have been established in these areas to co-ordinate targeted actions at a local level and prioritise these areas for "further work" in 2025.
Similar targeted action in recent years in areas such as Belturbet, Co Cavan and Newport, Co Mayo has successfully eliminated pesticide exceedances in those water supplies.
A pesticide is a substance that prevents insects, weeds and other pests from harming plants. T
hey are used in many industries, including agriculture, forestry, transport, domestic gardens and amenities such as public parks and golf courses.
Most public drinking water supplies in Ireland come from surface water, for example rivers, lakes and streams.
The HSE National Drinking Water Group has said that pesticides can get in to surface water in a few different ways:
By direct spraying of rushes and other weeds with pesticides close to a river or stream
From pesticide run-off from land into a stream during heavy rain; and
Sprayed pesticide can drift in the wind onto a stream, river or lake
Pesticides can also get into drinking water through misuse or careless handling of containers during storage or disposal.
Therefore, the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group is reminding users of herbicides and other pesticide products to always take account of the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies.
The body, which works to achieve compliance with the EU Drinking Water Directive, is also asking pesticide users to be aware of how their actions could impact their community's drinking water.
Asset Strategy, Technical Lead with Uisce Éireann, Gareth O'Brien has said water supply samples taken from the Greenmount catchment area in Co Louth continue to exceed the legal limits for pesticides.
"The water flows through Ardee along the River Dee and is extracted about ten kilometres upstream at the Greenmount water supply.
"The water undergoes the water treatment process here and that is where we test the final treated water and that is where we are getting the pesticide exceedances.
"We're asking all pesticide users in the catchment area just to be mindful of the water supply and whenever using pesticides just follow best practices and advice," Mr O'Brien added.
Alan McEvoy is a 33-year-old agronomist and crop advisor living in the Ardee area.
His role involves carrying out farm inspections before providing advice to farmers on what pesticides should be applied and in what quantities to ensure such substances are used safely and also yield the greatest crop return.
Mr McEvoy has said that while farmers, greenkeepers and amenity owners must evaluate their use of pesticides, those at home also have a role to play.
"In the public eye, the main thing people see is a sprayer driving through a town or village and most people think, 'there's the fella or the woman that's basically polluting the water that I'm drinking'.
"Nine times out of ten, or even more, it's actually the home use of pesticides on hard surfaces that is really doing more damage than the farm.
"The farmer is usually trained to apply the pesticides, they are after getting professional advice, they're sticking to within their guidelines, including the limits within the buffer zones.
"If you're spraying at home, your garden with a lawn-care or the weeds around your house, there's usually more damage done with that because you're spraying onto a hardcore surface and there's nothing there to bind the pesticide and prevent run-off."
In the first instance, Uisce Éireann is advising farmers and landowners not to use pesticides if at all possible, or else consider using an alternative.
If pesticides must be used, the utility has said there are basic steps that can be taken to reduce the risks to drinking water sources and the aquatic environment.
These include using a pesticide correctly as directed by the product's label, not using pesticides if rain is forecast within the next 48 hours, and by being aware of the location of all nearby watercourses, including drains, wells and springs.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Irish Independent

13-06-2025

• Irish Independent

Seven week extension to hosepipe ban on supply in Donegal

The order will now remain in effect for an additional seven weeks, until Monday, August 4, 2025. The order only applies to customers supplied by the public water supply in Milford, Kerrykeel, Ramelton, and not the rest of the county. The Water Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities. This measure is essential to safeguard water supplies for homes, businesses, and essential services. While recent weeks have brought cooler and wetter weather, the water levels at Lough Colmcille, which supplies water to the Milford area, remain under severe pressure. Water levels at Lough Colmcille remain lower than previously recorded at this time of year and it is expected, based on the typical trend for this time of year, that water levels will decrease for the summer period. It is considered that significant levels of rainfall over a prolonged period of time are required for this source to recover. Forecasts also indicate a likely return to warmer, drier weather from next week, which could further increase demand and place additional strain on an already stressed supply. Uisce Éireann's Water Network Operations Manager for Donegal, Damien O'Sullivan, said Uisce Éireann's top priority is to protect the water supply for use in homes, businesses and essential services. 'I'd like to thank the communities in Milford, Ramelton and Kerrykeel for adhering to the Water Conservation Order and urge them to continue to adhere to the order over the next seven weeks. "We appreciate too the efforts of the public in reporting leaks to us and continuing their efforts to conserve water. "Despite this collective effort and the recent rainfall in the area, Lough Colmcille remains under severe pressure and water levels in the lake remain lower than usual for this time of year. "This is due to significantly reduced rainfall over the past six months, combined with a noticeable increase in water demand in Milford over the past couple of years as a result of growth in the area,' said Mr O'Sullivan. While it may often feel like Ireland gets plenty of rain, the data shows the country experienced an unseasonably warm and dry autumn and winter. As a result, Lough Colmcille has not had its usual seasonal recharge, and is now in the summer months with lower-than-average water levels. Mr O'Sullivan continued, 'In response, we have increased our efforts in leakage detection, pipe repair, and overall network management. "We have taken a number of steps to reduce demand and we are continuing to supplement Milford from nearby supplies to allow for Lough Colmcille to replenish. "Due to this, there has been a 40% reduction in abstraction from Lough Colmcille since last October. "We have also deployed extra resources to finding and fixing critical leaks in the water network and conducted a public information campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of water conservation year-round,' said Mr O'Sullivan.

RTÉ News​

12-06-2025

• RTÉ News​

Hosepipe ban extended until August in three areas

The hosepipe ban which has been in place in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Milford in Co Donegal and the Kells/Oldcastle areas of Co Meath since early May has been extended by another seven weeks. It is set to remain in place until after the August Bank Holiday. Uisce Éireann said while recent weeks have brought cooler and wetter weather, water supplies in several parts of the country remain under significant pressure. Nationally, 21 supplies remain in drought status, and Uisce Éireann said it continues to monitor and manage these areas closely. It said that it would take several weeks of sustained rainfall to allow affected water sources to recover to normal levels. It said that forecasts also indicate a likely return to warmer, drier weather from next week, which could further increase demand and place additional strain on already stressed supplies. "Although we've seen some welcome rainfall, the long-term effects of a dry autumn, winter and spring are still being felt" said Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann. "Some water sources have not recovered to sustainable levels, and so extending the water conservation order is necessary to protect these vulnerable supplies" she added. "Nationally there are 21 locations across the country which remain in drought status across counties Westmeath, Donegal, Meath, Cork, Clare, Galway, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Offaly and Laois". A water conservation order, commonly referred to as a hosepipe ban, prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users and commercial premises for non-commercial activities. The prohibited water uses during the hosepipe ban include the use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for the purpose of: Watering a garden cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a domestic hosepipe cleaning a private leisure boat filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except when using hand-held containers filled directly from a tap) filling or maintaining a domestic pond (excluding fish ponds) filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (with the exception of such use for commercial purposes) filling or replenishing an artificial pond, lake or similar application. The conservation order, which was issued initially on 6 May, will remain in place until Monday, 4 August.

Irish Independent

26-05-2025

• Irish Independent

Uisce Éireann crews working to repair burst water mains in Wexford

The burst is affecting water supply to Uisce Éireann customers in Gorey and the surrounding areas and crews are on site and are working to repair the burst. It is estimated that repairs will be complete and supply will return to normal levels from approximately 2p.m. this afternoon. Uisce Éireann's Padraig Lyng assured affected customers that supply will be restored as quickly as possible. 'We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to customers by unplanned outages and we want to thank affected homes and businesses for their understanding while our crews work to repair the burst and restore normal supply,' said Padraig. Typically, it takes two to three hours following repairs for normal supply to restore to all customers affected by an unplanned outage. However, it may take longer for normal supply to be restored to customers at the end of the network or on higher ground as the system recharges. Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. To register as a vulnerable customer or as an alternative contact, visit their Vulnerable Customers page. For further updates, go to Uisce Éireann's website, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn or their customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number on their text updates page.