Keep Water Clean
Crop protection chemicals can be a threat to water quality & wildlife. Tiny spills & splashes can have a big impact on water quality. All advisers, farmers and operators need to follow best practice to keep pesticides out of water protection. This requires:
Careful siting and use of the pesticide handling area
Use a designated area for mixing pesticides and filling sprayers; never fill near a watercourse;
Have an emergency plan for dealing with spills;
Mixing and handling is best done on an impermeable surface where drainage is collected and drained to grass/soil(with Groundwater Authorisation) or via a Lined Biobed
Avoid any spills no matter how small;
Fill over a collection pit, portable bund or drip tray to contain any spills;
Avoid hard ground or concrete areas unless bunded;
Do not use the field entrance as a filling point if it is adjacent to a watercourse or any area, such as a road, track or other feature, which could channel run-off water to a watercourse;
Clear up spills. NEVER wash splashes or spills into drains;
Keep cat litter or other absorbent material available close by to mop up spills;
Never leave the sprayer unattended whilst filling;
Choose formulations and packaging designs to minimise the risk of spills and splashes and ease container cleaning;
Use an induction bowl or closed transfer system where available;
Use stored water, a bowser or mains supply with a double check valve;
Pressure or triple wash containers and drain into the induction bowl;
Rinse seals and lids over the induction bowl. Keep any cardboard clean;
Store empty containers safely and upright after use;
Follow disposal contractor’s advice on segregating clean packaging material;
Before leaving the mixing area check the sprayer for drips or leaks;
Waste Regulations have changed. Unlicensed on-farm incineration of pesticide containers is not permitted. Use a waste recycling or disposal contractor. To find a contractor visit: www.wasterecycling.org.
When spraying; always apply carefully to protect water. Wherever practical, establish a set-aside strip or at least a 5m no-spray buffer-zone adjacent to any watercourse;
Whenever possible enter the field at the top of the slope;
Do not spray if ground is waterlogged or frozen;
Avoid conditions where spray drift can occur;
Use nozzles which reduce drift, wherever practical;
Continuously monitor boom height, to help reduce the risk of drift;
Check nozzle flow rates to ensure even application;
Do not overspray buffer zones and watercourses; take extra care when spraying field corners and on uneven boundaries;
Spray headlands last to avoid driving over sprayed area;
Ensure any cleaning activities take place away from watercourses;
Spray tank washings onto the crop;
Wash the outside of the sprayer before leaving the field;
Keep tyres as clean as possible – sprayed soil can carry pesticides out of the field.
