Leitrim drinking water records zero pesticide breaches in 2024

The National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group is urging anyone using herbicides or pesticides to be mindful of how their actions can impact local water sources

There were zero pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in Leitrim in 2024, according to Uisce Éireann.

This places Leitrim ahead of the national trend, as Ireland overall has seen a more than 50 percent decrease in pesticide exceedances since 2017.

However, latest figures from Uisce Éireann’s monitoring programme show a small national increase in 2024, with 66 exceedances detected across the country from over 34,000 analyses - up from 52 in 2023.

While Leitrim’s compliance remains very high, the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) is urging anyone using herbicides or pesticides - especially farmers, greenkeepers and domestic users - to be mindful of how their actions can impact local water sources and the broader community.

Several catchment areas are prioritised for action due to recurring pesticide exceedances including Hacketstown in Carlow, Greenmount in Louth and Foynes Shannon Estuary in Limerick.

Similar targeted action has proven successful in areas such as Belturbet in Cavan and Newport in Mayo, where pesticide exceedances have now been eliminated.

Dr. Pat O'Sullivan, Uisce Éireann's Drinking Water Compliance Senior Manager, emphasised the need for collective action: "Last year, we detected pesticide exceedances 66 times in 22 public drinking water supplies. A concerning trend is the number of exceedances outside the spraying season for certain plant protection products, particularly in winter.

“We would like to remind users to be mindful of water sources when using pesticides as one drop of pesticides can be detected in a stream up to 30km away,” he added.

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To help protect drinking water and the wider environment, Uisce Éireann and the NPDWAG advise that pesticides should only be used when absolutely essential, with alternative methods considered first.

Leaving certain areas unsprayed can support native flowering plants and benefit pollinators like bees.

For those managing rushes, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recommends sustainable approaches focused on containment, minimising pesticide resilience.

If pesticides must be used, key safety measures include:

Always follow the label and product instructions.
Note that a closed spray period, during which product use is not permitted, is specified on the label for some products (e.g. products containing MCPA).
Never use MCPA in weed-wipers.
Avoid spraying if rain is forecast within 48 hours.
Identify nearby watercourses, including drains, wells and springs before spraying.
Maintain at least a three metre buffer zone near any watercourse subject to CAP conditionality, or follow any larger product-specific aquatic buffer.
Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains and rinse empty containers three times into the sprayer.
Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly.
Never fill a sprayer directly from a watercourse or carry out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a watercourse.
Never fill/wash a sprayer on concrete or sealed surface areas, where spillage/runoff to drains/watercourses is possible.
Never leave a sprayer unattended during filling or mixing.