1. Pesticides and Water Quality

2. Objectives  Define groundwater and it’s characteristics.  Identify possible fates of pesticides in the environment.  List preventative measures applicators’ can use to protect water quality.  Identify the”how to” and importance of testing and protecting private water supplies.

3. Precipitation Transpiration Evaporation The Water Cycle

4. Unsaturated Rock CapillaryWater Water Table SaturatedWater Saturated Rock (Aquifer) What is Groundwater? Soil

5. How Long Does it Take Rain Water to Get to the Stream? Days Weeks Months Years On average – it takes about 6 to 12 months on a forested watershed.

6. The Watershed A completely cut experimental watershed in Central PA

7. Groundwater Moves! Direction of ground water flow WHPA home and septic system stream barn and feed lot Distribution and increased awareness of extension publications and resources?

8. Consequences of GW Contamination  Often impossible to clean, lasts for years

9. GW Contamination Factors:  Pesticide properties  Soil properties  Site conditions  Applicator practices

10. Pesticide Properties  Adsorptivity  Degradation Rate  Solubility  Volatility  Persistence

11. Pesticide Properties Adsorption  Attached to soil or organic matter. Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

12. Pesticide Properties Absorption  Uptake into plants or animals Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

13. Pesticide Properties Degradation  Broken down into other chemicals like Carbon Dioxide and water.  Microbial degradation  Chemical degradation Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

14. Pesticide Properties Photodegradation  Broken down by sun Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

15. Pesticide Properties Solubility Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

16. Pesticide Properties Volitization  Conversion to gas Granular, flowable, and wettable powders – less susceptible to volatilization! Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

17. Pesticide Properties Persistance Some pesticides remain in the ground longer than others Groundwater Contamination Factors – Pesticide Properties

18. Soil Properties  Soil Texture  Soil Structure  Soil Organic Matter Content  Soil Permeability Groundwater Contamination Factors – Soil Properties

19. Soil Properties Texture Groundwater Contamination Factors – Soil Properties

20. Soil Properties Structure Groundwater Contamination Factors – Soil Properties

21. Soil Properties Organic Matter Groundwater Contamination Factors – Soil Properties

22. Soil Properties Permeability Groundwater Contamination Factors – Soil Properties

23. Site Conditions  Depth to groundwater  Geological Conditions  Climate and Irrigation Practices - Determining Leaching Potential - Runoff - Reducing Runoff - Soil Moisture Conditions Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions

24. Site Conditions Depth to Groundwater Depth to groundwater is major factor! Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions Filtering Soil Properties Texture & Organic Matter Application Events Solubility

25. Site Conditions Geological Conditions Name TextBedrock ft. Perm- In/hr Cap/in soil GilpinSilt Loam2-3.6-2.14-.18 GuernseyChannery L3-7.6-2.14-.18 Westm’dChannery L3.5-52-6.3.16-.2 WhartonSilty Clay4-6.6- 2 Local Soil Properties Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions

26. Site Conditions Geology of the Soil Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions

27. Site Conditions Climate Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions

28. Site Conditions Climate and Irrigation Practices Annual Rainfall Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions

29. Monthly Precipitation and Evapotranspiration in PA Evapotranspiration Precipitation Moisture Surplus MoistureDeficit GroundwaterRecharge

30. Site Conditions Runoff Carried by surface water Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions  Factors Scouting Erodibility Rain Amount Cover

31. Site Conditions Reducing Runoff Groundwater Contamination Factors – Site Conditions Pesticide Incorporation Contour farming Borders of untreated vegetation

32. Applicator Management Practices  Use IPM to reduce pesticide use  Pesticide Handling Mixing Application Storage Disposal

33. Applicator Management Practices IPM  Goal – Reduce Pesticide Use to Minimum Levels Groundwater Contamination Factors – Applicator Management Practices Scouting Timing of Application Beneficial’s Res. Var. GMO’s

34. Applicator Management Practices Pesticide Handling  Mixing Groundwater Contamination Factors – Applicator Management Practices Follow label instruction Avoid or Contain Spills Complications of Improper Handling

35. Applicator Management Practices Pesticide Handling  Application Groundwater Contamination Factors – Applicator Management Practices Equipment checked and maintained Chemigation Irrigation

36. Applicator Management Practices Pesticide Handling  Storage Groundwater Contamination Factors – Applicator Management Practices Follow standard practices – be mindful of movement of loose fluids Keep in containers; away from water; dry well- ventilated location Buy enough product for needs

37. Applicator Management Practices Pesticide Handling Follow Label Recommendations Triple Rinse Containers Dikes Chemsweep Groundwater Contamination Factors – Applicator Management Practices  Disposal

38. Determining Leaching Potential  Pesticide Properties - Low adsorptivity, Slow degradation, High solubility, Persistent  Soil Characteristics - High sand and gravel, Low organic matter  Site Conditions - Shallow depth to groundwater, High rainfall or irrigation  Management - Pesticide injection or incorporation into soil - Poor timing (heavy rain)

39. Preventative Measures  Identify vulnerability of soil  Consider where surface and groundwater are in relation to application  Know pesticides that may leach  Follow label directions  Apply at appropriate time  Measure properly and carefully

40. Preventative Measures (Continued)  Calibrate and maintain equipment  Avoid spills and back-siphoning  Direct application to target site  Leave buffer zones around sensitive areas  Dispose of pesticides properly (Triple Rinse)  Store pesticides safely

41. Preventative Measures (Continued)  Maintain records of pesticide usage  Avoid Over-application and Drift  Consider weather and runoff  Know and check your well  Use IPM – Apply Pesticides Only When Necessary!  Pesticide and Groundwater Advisory Statements

42. Health Effects of Groundwater Contamination  Factors Chemical Toxicity Duration of Exposure Dose

43. Dose-Response Relationship  Risk of adverse health effects increases with level of exposure. Threshold?

44. Common Agronomic Pesticides Detected  Atrazine  Sevin  Furadan  Chlordane  Dursban  Copper  Bladex  Extrazine  Dacthal  Diazinon  Banvel  Roundup  Lindane  Malathion  Parathion  Methoxychlor  Gramoxone  2,4,5-T

45. Units of Measure mg/L = ppm 1 drop in 116 soda cans µg/L = ppb 1 drop in 116,000 soda cans other special units

46. Health Effects of Groundwater Contamination Agriculture nitratespesticides coliform bacteria

47. Maintenance, Testing, Treatment and Protection are all voluntary!!! Health Effects of Groundwater Contamination Private Water Supplies

48. Proper Well Construction sloping ground “sanitary” well cap grout sealcasing to bedrock Divert surface water away from wellhead Prevent insects and animals from getting under the well cap bedrock

49. EPA Drinking Water Standards Gives the “acceptable level” of pollutant in drinking water

50. Primary Standards (MCL) (maximum contaminant level)  health based  enforced (public systems)  examples: coliform bacteria: <1/100 ml coliform bacteria: <1/100 ml nitrate: 45 mg/L nitrate: 45 mg/L PCE: 5 µg/L PCE: 5 µg/L atrazine: 3 µg/L atrazine: 3 µg/L

51.  cause taste, odor, stains, etc.  examples: iron, manganese, pH iron, manganese, pH  EPA Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 or http://www.epa.gov/safewater 1-800-426-4791 or http://www.epa.gov/safewater http://www.epa.gov/safewater Secondary Standards (RMCL)

52. Water Testing 131 pesticides detected in groundwater of 4 states

53. Water Testing  Every Year coliform bacteria  Every 3 Years pH pH total dissolved solids total dissolved solids local pollutant? local pollutant?

54. Local Testing of Well Water  H & H Water Controls Charmichaels, PA  test for coliform bacteria, e. coli, inorganics, arsenic, lead, copper, mercury and others  Each test has an added cost; base test is $22.00; all other items have an individual charge.  724-966-2278

55. Local State Water Well Test Site  Department of Environmental Protection New Salem Road Uniontown, PA  test only for coli form bacteria  cost = $10.00  724-439-7430

56.  Sky View Laboratory, Inc. PO Box 273 Jennerstown, PA 15547  Agriculture  Drinking Water 1-814-629-5441 Local Regional Testing Laboratory

57.  Free-Col Laboratories Meadville, PA  Wastewater (landfills, industry, etc.)  Pesticides  Drinking Water 1-800-836-4130 Regionally Located International Environmental Testing Laboratory

58. National Testing Lab  National Testing Laboratories 1-800-458-3330 for cases where comprehensive water test is needed due to multiple contaminants Landfills Industry Pesticides 70 parameters (coliform, metals, inorganics, physical, THM’s, VOC’s) for $120 Add pesticides, herbicides, PCB’s for an additional $30  http://www.watercheck.com http://www.watercheck.com

59. Penn State’s Web Site www.extensionwater.psu.edu

60. Credits  Pesticides and Groundwater NRAES Publication 34  Cornell Cooperative Extension  University of California Cooperative Extension  Penn State Cooperative Extension School of Forest Resources

61. Program originally produced by Jim Clark & Don Fretts – PSU Cooperative Extension Educators Revised through a grant with the Pennsylvania State University Pesticide Education Department, and Christina Becker for the Southwest Pesticide Education Committee March, 2006