Pesticide exceedances detected in local water supplies

Uisce Éireann is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products to continue to consider the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination. (Picture: Patrick Browne)

Pesticide exceedances in 2022 were detected as part of Uisce Éireann’s public water supply monitoring programme in Carrignavar, Glanmire and Mogeely.

According to a statement released this week by Uisce Éireann, MCPA is still the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water sources and is present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control thistles, docks and rushes. 

“In Co Cork, the exceedances of the drinking water regulations for fluroxypyr and glyphosate were noted in the Carrignavar, Mogeely and Glanmire public water supplies following routine sampling,” according to Deirdre O’Loughlin, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist.

“While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels we are detecting do not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water …” 

Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition