Welsh Water launches free pesticide disposal scheme to protect drinking water quality

PestSmart, a joint initiative supported by the Welsh government, says it wishes to encourage farmers and landowners to consider the way they manage their land to help improve raw water quality
PestSmart, a joint initiative supported by the Welsh government, says it wishes to encourage farmers and landowners to consider the way they manage their land to help improve raw water quality

Welsh Water has launched a new initiative to encourage farmers, growers and landowners in targeted areas to consider ‘smarter’ ways of weed, pest and disease control that do not impact on people, water or wildlife.

PestSmart, a joint initiative between Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales, encourages people to consider the way they manage their land to help improve raw water quality before it reaches water treatment works.

Ian Christie, Managing Director of Water Services at Welsh Water, said the raw water monitoring programme has detected 'increasing traces' of pesticides in areas never seen them before.

He said: “While these levels are too low to pose a risk to those drinking the water, they are enough to breach rigorous drinking water standards so we want to work with land managers to take action to address this issue together.

“Even the most organised of land managers can find themselves with an out of date or now unlicensed product which can be difficult or expensive to dispose of correctly.

“We know that pesticides form an essential and everyday role in the agricultural community. However, if stored, used or disposed of incorrectly, they can have a devastating impact on people, water and wildlife.

“By providing this free and confidential scheme in targeted catchment areas across Wales, we want to work with land managers to reduce the risk of pollution and safeguard raw water quality before it reaches our water treatment works.”

'Thriving water environment'

Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, said the pesticide disposal scheme 'plays an important role' in Wales' Water Strategy for a thriving water environment which is sustainably managed.

She said: “It is an example of collaboration in action between the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water and very importantly those directly involved in land management.

“This free scheme will allow for unwanted, out of date or revoked pesticides and sheep dip to be collected and disposed of, safely and confidentially in six catchments across Wales. The scheme will provide multiple benefits in terms of reducing the potential risk to water quality and the wider environment.”

The scheme is available within the Teifi, Upper Wye, Towy, Pendine, Cefni and Alaw Reservoir catchments. It is completely confidential and available for a limited time on a first come, first served basis.