AVAILABILITY OF MULTIRESIDUE METHODS FOR ANALYSIS OF PESTICIDES IN WATER SOURCES AND SUPPLIES
Report No FR0312

K M Moore

Dec 1992

SUMMARY

I BENEFITS

This report reviews the current situation with regards to availability of satisfactory analytical methods for analysing pesticides in water sources and supplies. As far as possible it focuses on potentially important pesticides and refers to pesticides where methods seem reasonable and gives example performance data, but more importantly highlights pesticides where analytical development seems justified. In doing this the report provides a focus for rationalising available resources and in addition gives a useful reference source of available methods.

II OBJECTIVES

To review the availability of satisfactory analytical methods for pesticides of potential concern to the water industry and to identify analytical development needs.

III REASONS

The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 impose a duty on Water Undertakers to monitor regularly for pesticides in water supplies. Many pesticides are in current use but it is important to identify those which could potentially contaminate drinking water sources, so that effective analytical methods can be developed and monitoring strategies adopted and costs minimised. Because in principle many pesticides could find their way into drinking water sources there is a need for multiresidue analytical methods to minimise the cost of monitoring. These multiresidue analytical methods must be of sufficient accuracy and sensitivity to monitor compliance with the prescribed values set by the Water Supply Regulations.

IV CONCLUSIONS

There are analytical methods with satisfactory performance for the majority of pesticides which could potentially contaminate drinking water. The WRc multiresidue analytical methods for pesticides developed as a part of this contract compare favourably with the other analytical methods available. However, there are some pesticides for which there are no analytical methods available or their performance is unsatisfactory and for these some method development would be justified.

V RECOMMENDATIONS

It should be considered whether methods of analysis with satisfactory performance need to be developed for the pesticides listed in Table 4-.2 of this report, so that their possible presence in water sources can be ascertained.

VI RESUME OF CONTENTS

A list of pesticides with potential for contaminating drinking water sources has been produced based on pesticide usage and tendency to leach. A thorough review of the availability of satisfactory methods of analysis for these pesticides has been carried out. From this review, pesticides for which analytical methods are either unavailable or are insufficiently accurate have been identified.

Copies of the Report are available from FWR, price £35.00 less 20% to FWR Members