Metaldehyde in the catchment
This autumn consider reducing reliance on chemical control measures by adopting a wider range of options in your Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme to control slug numbers. If you need to use chemical control, please consider the use of ferric phosphate pellets instead of metaldehyde pellets and, as always, follow best practice guidelines. In some areas there are water company funded initiatives available to support you, so contact your local water company to find out more. Please note that contact details can be found at the bottom of this update.
Please see the map and graph below for 12 monitoring locations within the Thames catchment.
Latest Results
The latest catchment results show that metaldehyde concentrations have remained below the drinking water standard at all 12 sites this week. Soils are now wetting up across the catchment as rainfall becomes more frequent and temperatures cool. Agronomist reports suggest that slug pressure is still relatively low however there is a risk that heavy rainfall could mobilise metaldehyde that has already been applied. Please follow best practice if using any form of chemical slug control this autumn (www.getpelletwise.co.uk).
Focus on….. Loddon at Wargrave
So far this season metaldehyde concentrations have remained below the drinking water standard of 0.1µg/l. Autumn 2016 saw the highest concentration recorded since monitoring began in 2015 in the Loddon at Wargrave with a concentration of 0.285µg/l, almost three times the drinking water standard. The spike in concentration followed Storm Angus which mobilised metaldehyde from slug pellets on the ground. No concentrations were recorded above the drinking water standard in autumn 2017, however rainfall late into the season caused soils to wet up, and as a result, a spike of 0.095µg/l was recorded in mid-December.
To find out more please contact:
Affinity Water: Q2F0Y2htZW50TWFuYWdlbWVudEBhZmZpbml0eXdhdGVyLmNvLnVr, SES Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNlc3dhdGVyLmNvLnVr, South East Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNvdXRoZWFzdHdhdGVyLmNvLnVr or Thames Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50Lm1hbmFnZW1lbnRAdGhhbWVzd2F0ZXIuY28udWs=