Pesticides in Drinking Water of the Northern Great Plains
Author Information
Author(s): Donald B. Donald, Allan J. Cessna, Ed Sverko, Nancy E. Glozier
Primary Institution: Environment Canada
Hypothesis
Rural populations obtaining drinking water from catchments that are predominantly crop lands may be exposed to relatively high concentrations of pesticides in drinking water.
Conclusion
Pesticides were detected in drinking water supplies, but concentrations were generally below established guidelines for individual chemicals.
Supporting Evidence
- Two insecticides and 27 herbicides were detected in reservoir water.
- Water treatment removed from 14 to 86% of individual herbicides.
- Drinking water contained an average of 6.4 herbicides.
Takeaway
This study found that drinking water in rural areas can have pesticides from nearby farms, but most of these are at safe levels.
Methodology
Water from 15 reservoirs was sampled frequently during the spring pesticide application period and analyzed for pesticide content using mass spectrometric detection.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to variability in water treatment effectiveness across different facilities.
Limitations
The study design provided only general estimates of pesticide reduction at specific water treatment facilities.
Participant Demographics
Residents of 15 rural communities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, with populations ranging from 95 to 10,959.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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