Protecting Water Quality

1. Protecting Water Quality Why Professional Applicators Must Care

2. Pesticides in water • Detections on the rise. • 23 pesticides found in some urban streams. • Routine “hits” after storms; seasonal spikes.

3. Laws in place, more coming • Clean Water Act. • Endangered Species Act. • State programs. • New target: non-point source pollution.

4. Public pressure • Media coverage spotlights pesticides in water. • Activists keep pressure on issue. • Public wants clean water.

5. Pointing fingers • Pesticide sources: ag, urban, industrial. • Are we part of the problem? • Must make sure we aren’t. • Starts by taking personal responsibility.

6. Regulations: coming soon? • Professional applicators easier to regulate than the public. • Mandated buffers. • Restrictions on specific products. • Mandated water sampling. • Increased fines.

7. Pest control vs. pesticides • Prevent the problem - use IPM. • Control pests by avoiding them in the first place. • Pest survival needs: air, water, food and shelter. • Take these away, pests go away, too.

8. IPM foundation • Identify where pest coming from. • Seal entry points: cracks and crevices. • Remove habitat where pests live: wood, leaves, paper. • Trim shrubs, other vegetation away from homes and buildings.

9. Consider all options • Pull out diseased and dead plants. • Prune off infested branches. • Make sure plants are receiving proper fertilizer and water. • Use beneficial insects when practical. • Use Bt products when possible. • Use baits to control ants.

10. Best Management Practices • If you choose pesticides, follow BMPs. • Right product for right job. • Precautions at treatment site. • Proper disposal. • Common sense.

11. Product selection • Identify the pest before choosing a product. • Use lowest dosage on the label. • Surfactants or stickers can keep products from washing off.

12. Choose the right formulation • Different types of formulations work better for different seasons and sites. • Granules may float away in the rain and contaminate water. • Micro-encapsulated products can protect sensitive sites.

13. Mixing pesticides • Mix and load on an impervious pad with provisions for collecting and reusing spills. • Plan ahead - mix only what’s needed. (Prevents disposal problems and saves money.)

14. Before you spray... • Before you treat, scout the site. • Locate street storm water drains, streams, ponds, wetlands and areas of natural runoff. • Determine direction of run-off flow. • Mentally picture where accidental spill or hose rupture might flow.

15. Manage drift • Nozzle size - larger droplets drift less. • Lower pressure drifts less. • Humidity and air inversions increase drift. • Dust and granules can drift, too. • Mist, dust and granules that land on driveways, decks and other hard surfaces can wash into water.

16. Drift and run-off • Avoid spraying when windy. • Drift that settles on pavement or walk ways can wash into storm drains. • Avoid spraying during rainstorms. • Do not apply pesticides within 6-10 feet of any water body. • Always ensure that no pesticides enter water.

17. Stop irrigation runoff • Efficient irrigation wets only the active root zone, does not cause runoff. • Slopes require short, frequent irrigations. • When products require watering in (fertilizer/herbicide combinations), use frequent, light waterings to prevent runoff. • Notify the customer about proper irrigation to prevent runoff.

18. Use-up leftovers, rinsewater • Never pour leftover pesticides down any type of drain. • Use leftovers on a site specified on the label: don’t dump. • Reuse rinsewater in next batch.

19. Clean-up & sprayer up-keep • When cleaning equipment, capture rinse water and reuse according to label directions. • Calibrate your sprayer or spreader following manufacturer specifications. • Periodically replace nozzles.

20. Managing spills • Don’t wash away spills - runoff can pollute. • First, stop the leak! • Wrap a rag around a split hose. • Close the shut-off valve. • Dam spill path if headed for drain or waterway. • Clean-up spills immediately.

21. Spill clean-up tips • Keep supply of absorbent material on hand. • Best buys: • 10-pound bag of pet litter. • Super-absorbent paper towels • Operator must have access to MSDS or product label during all mixing and loading.

22. Common questions • Is it really us? • Are we really affecting the food chain of fish? • Are there sublethal effects to ecology?

23. Best response • Keeping pesticides out of water: the right thing to do. • Use due caution, due care. • Could loose products if we don’t. • Only you can prevent surface water contamination.