The Problem with Pesticides

WYRE FLOOD ACTION GROUP (cont)

of the debate. The list of issues and actions produced for each meeting demonstrates the revolving nature of drainage and flood prevention. There is always something to repair, for example a drain beneath the A586 at Churchtown which issues into the Wyre will necessitate over night closure in July to deal with a suspected blockage. The west gate of the Garstang Flood Storage Basin is due to be replaced and work on the re lining of a 900ml drain in Green Lane East by contractors continues. In the meantime, United Utilities strives to maintain water quality for Wyre and coastal residents. Take a look at the following article to find out more...

Roger Brooks

THE PROBLEM WITH PESTICIDES

Franklaw Water Treatment Works provides drinking water for an estimated 650,000 people living in the Fylde, Preston and the Ribble Valley areas. The treatment works utilises water from a variety of sources, including the river Wyre. The standards for drinking water are necessarily high and to help treat the water effectively a range of chemicals are monitored in the untreated water, pesticides being one of them. In recent years, the number of detections of pesticides has increased. Before being delivered to our houses, pesticides must be removed from the water at the water treatment works, which is an expensive process resulting in increased operational costs, power consumption and carbon impact. Pesticides are frequently used in the Wyre catchment to improve land for livestock pasture and to control weeds on roads, railway lines, parks and in gardens. Two pesticides which are commonly found within the River Wyre are MCPA, which is often used to control rushes, nettles and thistles, and Diazinon, an insecticide used to treat parasites of sheep such as blow-fly, ticks and lice. Even small amounts of these chemicals can pollute several kilometres of river. They can enter watercourses via surface water flows or through drainage channels and subsurface drains, which is particularly likely if they are applied just before heavy rainfall. Pesticides can also enter watercourses directly due to spillages, improper disposal, or from spray drift in windy conditions. The insecticide diazinon can also enter watercourses via leaks from the baths which sheep are dipped in during treatment or drips from treated sheep.

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PROBLEM WITH PESTICIDES (cont)

Pesticides, if used incorrectly or carelessly can be damaging to the environment. For example, at a high enough concentration, diazinon is highly toxic to aquatic insects such as caddisflies, mayflies and freshwater shrimp. Healthy populations of these species are vital for a healthy river; they provide important ecosystem functions such as decomposition and provide a food source for a wide range of fish and birds, some of which are protected species in the Wyre catchment and across the UK. Research has also shown that at high concentrations diazinon can damage the olfactory systems of Atlantic salmon, which can impact their migration ability. Since 2018 the Wyre Rivers Trust have been working with United Utilities, the Environment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming to monitor concentrations of certain pesticides within the upper Wyre catchment. This has involved taking water samples at 20 sites on the Wyre and its tributaries during the summer months and into autumn when pesticide use is at its highest. In 2020: • seven different herbicides and one insecticide were detected, including one which is not licensed for use in the UK • 80% of samples tested for herbicides contained one or more herbicide • 40% of samples tested for herbicides contained concentrations that meant treatment would be required in order to make them safe to drink • 50% of samples tested for insecticides contained diazinon • Concentrations of pesticides were particularly high at Dolphinholme, Street

Brook and Foxhouses Brook We have also been engaging with a range of pesticide users to improve understanding