Ground water contamination from pesticides may result from normal land application, mixing and loading, back-siphoning into irrigation wells during chemigation, direct channeling of pesticides through sinkholes or poorly constructed wells, or by improper disposal. Pesticides must be handled safely not only to protect ground water but also to ensure human, livestock, wildlife and environmental safety. Purification of contaminated ground water is difficult. Treatment of contaminated ground water is expensive, and depending on the contaminant, may not always be successful. The best policy is to prevent hazardous substances from getting into ground water in the first place.
Ground water is one of Florida's most important natural resources.
It provides agriculture, industry and households with a vast supply of clean water. We need to ensure that this supply continues to be of high quality in the future by using wise management now. The best means of protecting the ground water supply is to understand how human activities may affect this important resource. Gary Jackson, Bruce Webendorfer.