Pesticides play an important role in agriculture. They have increased farm production, and they have enabled farmers to manage more acres with less labor. If pesticides are not handled carefully around the farmstead, they can seep through the ground after a leak or spill, or they can enter a well directly during mixing and loading. Taking voluntary action to prevent pesticide contamination of groundwater will help assure their continued availability for responsible use by farmers.
Pesticides work by interfering with the life processes of plants and insects.
Pesticides are also toxic to people. When found in water supplies, pesticides normally are not present in high-enough concentrations to cause acute health effects, which can include chemical burns, nausea and convulsions. Instead, they typically occur in trace levels, and the concern is primarily for their potential for causing chronic health problems from prolonged exposure. Your drinking water is least likely to be contaminated if you follow appropriate management procedures or dispose of wastes in any location that is off the farm site. However, proper offsite disposal practices are essential to avoid risking contamination that could affect the water supplies and health of others.