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Pesticides and Water Quality

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Mitigating Environmental Effects of Pesticides in Urban Areas

Pesticides are toxic chemicals that kill pests but have the potential to harm the environment, especially our waterways. Poor pesticide application practices can result in runoff from the surfaces that are sprayed.

You can reduce pesticide runoff by

  • Understanding how pesticides work
  • Knowing how to use them properly
  • Taking action to offset their risk of contaminating water bodies

The following publications and online tools can help you learn how to prevent and mitigate pesticide runoff in urban environments.

What is the problem? Video         What can I do to help? Video

Quick Tips on Pesticides

These very short publications describe uses of specific pesticide active ingredients, the risks associated with them, and how to reduce the risks.

Comparisons of pesticide risks

Many of UC & ANR's Pest Note publications compare risks to water quality, natural enemies, bees, and people.  Click the Compare Risks button in any of the following Pest Notes.

Insects & Other Arthropods Weeds Plant Diseases

UC IPM Green Bulletin

This newsletter describes specific practices and information that pest management professionals can incorporate into their daily work to manage pests effectively while reducing pesticide runoff and other environmental problems. All issues

Online training courses

These free courses were developed for professional pesticide applicators, but they can help anyone learn about how to reduce pesticide use, effects on water quality, and best practices to keep the pesticide where it should be.

Urban Pesticide Runoff and Mitigation Online Courses

  • IPM – A Solution for Reducing Pesticides/Water Quality: Pesticide Properties
  • Impact of Pesticides on Water Quality/Mitigating Urban Pesticide Runoff
  • Water Quality and Mitigation: Bifenthrin and Fipronil
  • Herbicides and Water Quality

Pesticide Application Equipment and Calibration

Each course will receive CEU from DPR.

Credits
A UC ANR team developed these products under a project sponsored by California Department of Pesticide Regulation.  Technical members: C. Wilen, M.L. Flint, J. Gan, D. Haver, J. Strand, C. Wilen; production:  C. Reynolds, S. Parker, T. Martin.

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /IPMPROJECT/mitigating_urban.html revised: February 9, 2012. Contact webmaster.