Longford communities encouraged to join initiative to stamp out pesticides in water supply

 Uisce Eireann are encouraging communities in Longford to follow the example of Newport Co. Mayo to reduce the impact of pesticide use on drinking water sources.

 For years pesticide exceedances were an issue for Newport’s water supply in Co Mayo, but a targeted team approach has seen the supply removed from the EPA’s list of vulnerable water supplies.  Longford communities are being encouraged to consider the environment and alternatives to pesticides when gardening, farming and maintaining sports grounds and in turn improve the quality of local drinking water for homes and businesses. Even a tear drop of pesticides can pollute a long stretch of a river.

Thomas Gibbon's Uisce Eireann's Region and Wastewater Compliance analyst stated that "While Uisce Éireann’s consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels of pesticides being detected in water supplies do not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water and it is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives".

The Longford public can check the quality of their local water source by visiting the website https://www.water.ie/help/water-quality/.