Pesticides In UK Water Exceed European Limits

Dow Jones Newswires 30aug01

LONDON -- Around 77% of the U.K.'s rivers and lakes, and 6% of its groundwater sources, exceed European standards for pesticide contamination in drinking water, research by European water companies' association Eureau shows, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

Water U.K., which represents water companies, called on the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to work with the water, farming and chemical industries to tackle the problem, the paper says.

Water U.K. said the government should consider banning or restricting the worst pesticides and use tighter regulation or financial incentives to improve U.K. farmers' spraying practices.

The cost of removing pesticides from water has been around GBP1 billion in capital expenditure over the last 10 years, and around GBP100 million a year in running costs, the paper quotes Water U.K. as saying.

The Crop Protection Association, or CPA, representing the pesticide industry, said that some of the measures proposed by Water U.K. are being implemented, the paper reports. The paper quoted a CPA spokesman as saying the most toxic pesticide found by Eureau in the water is as toxic as common fluoride toothpaste.