Threats

Threat Spotlight: Household Pesticides

All chemical pesticides are now considered a drinking water threat under the new technical rules. While commercial agricultural pesticide application, handling and storage is often addressed through Risk Management Plans, this isn’t feasible for small quantities of household pesticides. However, even local pesticide use can become a threat to your drinking water as these chemicals can runoff into surface water (lakes/rivers), or seep into the groundwater. The impact of this can compound when multiple households are using them in the same community and these all flow to the same source of drinking water. Additionally, many pesticides aren’t picky about the insects they target and can be harmful to useful pollinators such as bees. 

Consider using natural alternatives to pesticides when you can. Check out our fact sheet here for some suggestions and more in the graphic below, and feel free to send your own ideas for natural alternatives to info@trentsourceprotection.on.ca.  

Other Things You Can Do:

• Use products immediately and apply them exactly as instructed;
• Purchase only the necessary amount for the job to use products quickly and avoid mixing and storage of larger quantities of concentrated products;
• Look for natural product options and strategies;
• Never discard pesticides down the drain, toilet, sewer, or in the trash;
• Check your municipality’s website for collection information and disposal sites for pesticide remains and containers;
• Do not rinse containers in a household sink and do not pour rinse water down the drain;
• Never re-use or burn a pesticide container.