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
Whilst metaldehyde concentrations have remained below the drinking water standard across all 12 monitoring sites this week, concentrations in some areas are beginning to rise. The River Eden at Chiddingstone saw the largest increase from last week’s results with a concentration of 0.088µg/l recorded on 12th November. It is likely that this is due to the large amount of rain which fell over the weekend, mobilising metaldehyde from slug pellets that had already been applied. Please follow best practice if using any form of chemical slug control this season (www.getpelletwise.co.uk).
Focus on… Thames at Hurley
So far this autumn concentrations at the River Thames at Hurley have remained below the drinking water standard of 0.1µg/l. During autumn 2016 there were four results recorded above the drinking water standard, peaking at 0.458µg/l on 28th November following Storm Angus. No samples were recorded above the drinking water standard in autumn 2017, however three results were recorded above half the drinking water standard, peaking at 0.062µg/l in December.
To find out more please contact:
Affinity Water: Q2F0Y2htZW50TWFuYWdlbWVudEBhZmZpbml0eXdhdGVyLmNvLnVr, SES Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNlc3dhdGVyLmNvLnVr, South East Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNvdXRoZWFzdHdhdGVyLmNvLnVr or Thames Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50Lm1hbmFnZW1lbnRAdGhhbWVzd2F0ZXIuY28udWs=