Pesticides levels in public drinking water supplies breached regulations on 81 occasions last year. The most regularly detected pesticide was MCPA which is found in products commonly used to kill thistles, dock and rushes. Irish Water said even where exceedances were detected, they were not high enough to pose any “immediate risk” to health. But John Leamy, the utility’s head of drinking water compliance, said they were still “undesirable” to have in drinking water. Irish Water said it consulted with the HSE on determining the safe thresholds for pesticide levels in drinking water.

Source: Irish Independent March 16, 2021 19:11 UTC