Use pesticides only when necessary or try natural alternatives

Runoff from fields can carry soil particles and pesticides from treated fields or spills into streams, ditches, ponds, and wells, affecting the health of people, livestock, and the quality of produce. The greatest effect from surface runoff occurs when rain falls within 24 hours of a pesticide application. Some pesticides are persistent in the soil and can pose a problem for months.
If herbicides are involved, the resulting contaminated water may also cause problems if uses for plant irrigation.

Causes of Contamination:

• Pesticide concentrate spills when mixing and loading sprayers
• Leakage of stored concentrate
• Back siphoning or overfilling of sprayer tanks
• Rinsing or washing spray equipment
• Spray drift in windy conditions or too close to open water
• Vapor drift

Prevent pesticides from entering watercourses from runoff by planting a 10m vegetated buffer using native species of trees and shrubs along shorelines of streams and ponds adjacent to treated fields.
Incorporating pesticides into the soil or using a foliar application after the crop appears results in lower losses than when applying to bare soil.

• Always read the label before you apply any pesticide
• Keep concentrates in a locked storage area (out of the floodplain)
• Triple rinse and properly dispose of empty pesticide containers
• Mix concentrates 30 m away from any water supply
• Use appropriate buffer zones and berms to avoid surface water contamination by spray
  drift or runoff waters
• Follow the setbacks listed on the pesticide label
• Do not spray within 10 m of shallow wells or other water sources

Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides and can contaminate water through direct application, runoff, and atmospheric build-up. They can also poison fish and wildlife, contaminate food sources, and destroy animal habitat.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can mitigate this damage as well as save money by taking into account specific soils, climate and weather patterns, pest history, and crop conditions.

What are some pesticide best management practices?

• Use products immediately and apply them exactly as instructed
• Purchase only the necessary amount for the job to use products quickly and avoid mixing and
  storage of larger quantities of concentrated products
• Look for natural product options and strategies
• Never discard pesticides down the drain, toilet, sewer, or in the trash
• Check your municipality’s website for collection information and disposal sites for pesticide remains and containers
• Do not rinse containers in a household sink and do not pour rinse water down the drain
• Never re-use or burn a pesticide container