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 results show that metaldehyde concentrations across all 12 monitoring sites have remained below the drinking water standard this week. However, concentrations are rising. Three of the monitoring sites recorded concentrations above half the drinking water standard, whilst others, although still low, have seen significant increases from last week. If you need to make any further slug pellet applications over the coming weeks please consider water protection, and, as always, follow best practice guidelines (www.getpelletwise.co.uk).
Focus on… Eden at Chiddingstone
The River Eden is a tributary of the River Medway, which flows into the Thames. Metaldehyde concentrations in the River Eden at Chiddingstone were recorded above the drinking water standard for 15 consecutive days during November 2016 following a regional storm event, peaking at 0.556µg/l. In autumn 2017, seven samples exceeded the drinking water standard, with a maximum recorded concentration of 0.593µg/l in late November. So far this autumn the concentrations have remained below the 0.1µg/l standard, although they have been the highest recorded across all 12 sites to date this season.
To find out more please contact:
Affinity Water: Q2F0Y2htZW50TWFuYWdlbWVudEBhZmZpbml0eXdhdGVyLmNvLnVr, SES Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNlc3dhdGVyLmNvLnVr, South East Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50QHNvdXRoZWFzdHdhdGVyLmNvLnVr or Thames Water: Y2F0Y2htZW50Lm1hbmFnZW1lbnRAdGhhbWVzd2F0ZXIuY28udWs=