Reducing Pesticides in Water

What do I need to do

OR think about?

Victoria Fradley

North Anglia River Basin Co-ordinator

07887 534983

Frequently found pesticides in

water & main routes

– metaldehyde

– clopyralid

– carbetamide

– propyzamide

– bentazone

– mecoprop

– MCPA and others

Overland runoff

Yard runoff

Spray Drift

Field drains

Metaldehyde

• Product update

– Active was reviewed 2013 (Annex 1)

– Individual product review by June 2015 but your best

practice will help!

• Applicator Calibration

– New pelleter calibration specification being developed

by Association of Agricultural Engineers / NSTS

– After November 2016 every 6 years /if less than 3m

boom width

Grandfather rights and certification

• Rights repealed from

26th November 2015

• New City & Guilds Level 2

course for those with

previous grandfather rights

– IF on own or employer’s land

• OR PA training required -

PA1, PA2 and PA4S if

operating on another’s land

Pesticide handling areas

• Consider Portable Bund to localise spills or splash

catcher

– To collect and transfer back to sprayer tank

Pesticide handling areas

• Ideally install a permanent bund

– (ensure area does not receive other drainage water)

– To direct drainage off concrete, away from normal

drains, to either holding tank or Biobed / Biofilter

Bunded

concrete

area

BIOBED with Drip irrigation

Pre biobed tank

Final distribution area with drip

irrigation

Offset Biobeds

Bio-Mix

• 1 part soil

• 2 part straw

• 1 compost

Biofilters

Operational Guidance

• T32 Exemption required from EA

• Biobed Volumes

– Max 15,000 litres per biobed in 12mths

• 15000 l figure excludes rainwater

– Max 1,500 litres stored pre-treatment

– 50m3 waste biobed mix stored for 12mths

– 50m3 waste biobed mix spread in any 12 month

period

Biobed Example Costs (Excl VAT) • Sprayer loading area - depends on whether adequate

concrete present with bund added or all new materials –

cost range = £300 - £2850

• Each chamber £140, pump £60 – x2

• Biobed excavation, turf and biomix materials £700

• Liner with sump if needed - can be £1000

• Filter + Drip irrigation to biobed and final disposal, actual

costs depends on areas = £550

• =£4550 approx with new filling area (without labour)

Biofilter Example Costs (excl VAT) Collection tank (price varies with size) + pump

£745 (up to £1500)

3 IBC @ £90 each £270

Bio Filter Kit system £288

1 IBC + pump £170

MDPE pipe + fittings £50

Turf, biomix & pea shingle £40

Total £1565

Sprayer filling area +£2850

=£4415 (without labour)

Roofing for 9m x7 m +£3750 erected

=£8165

CSF Capital Grants

Lower Great

Ouse

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/csf/cgs/default.aspx

Emergency Action Plans

• Why? – Fire, spillage or accident

– Helps co-ordinate emergency response

• How?

– Emergency contact numbers

• 999 or 112, EA incident hotline 0800 80 70 60

– Gas, electricity, waste company, local authority

• Farm layout map

• Site drainage plan for the yard

What does this mean for me?

1. Please calibrate & use bout limiters

2. Use bunded pesticide handling areas

3. Have a Spill / Emergency Action Plan

– And take care in transport

4. Provide Watercourse Buffer Zones

5. Spread when conditions are fit

6. Do Field Risk Assessment - VI project ongoing!

More Information • Catchment Sensitive Farming

• Environment Agency

• www.biobeds.info

• www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk

– Best Practice Guides, • Pesticide handling areas

• Biobeds

• Biobed Manual