Main authors: Jenneke van Vliet, Marije Hoogendoorn, Peter Leendertse 
FAIRWAYiS Editor: Jane Brandt
Source documents: »Oenema, O. et al. 2018. Review of measures to decrease nitrate pollution of drinking water sources. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.1, 125 pp
»Commelin, M. et al. 2018. Review of measures to decrease pesticide pollution of drinking water sources. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.2, 79 pp
»Velthof, G. et al. 2020. Identification of most promising measures and practices. FAIRWAY Project Deliverable 4.3, 72 pp

 

One of FAIRWAY's major research themes is the identification and assessment of most promising measures and practices to decrease nitrate and pesticide pollution of drinking water supplies by agriculture (see »Farming practices: review and assessment).

Data and information collected from the Noord-Brabant case study was used in the research tasks as described here. Pesticide, rather than nitrate, pollution is the main issue in this area.


Contents table
1. Measures to decrease pesticide pollution
2. Effectiveness of nitrate and pesticide measures

1. Measures to decrease pesticide pollution

In »Review of measures to decrease pesticide pollution of drinking water sources we describe how FAIRWAY also built on insights and results gathered in EU-wide and global projects and studies. We provide an overview and assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of measures aimed at decreasing pesticide pollution of drinking water sources. Again, as part of the review, the Noord-Brabant case study provided an overview of the measures that have been implemented in the local area.

Name of measure Installing a wash basin and processing/purefying contaminated water
Target Quality surface water resources
Description Cleaning spray machines (or other machinery that might have come into contact with pesticides) on a fixed spot where waste water is collected and processed or purefied by biological decay (Phytobac, biofilter) or evaporation (Heliosec).
Mode of action End-of pipe
Expected effectiveness Low: 5-10% decrease in concentration/load
Expected cost Unknown
Underpinning Yes (> 5 reports)
Applicability Yes (on more than 75% of the agricultural land)
Adoptability No (on <25% of the addressees)
Other benefits No
Disadvantages No
References
Additional comments  

2. Effectiveness of nitrate and pesticide measures

The information about 34 different nitrate mitigation measures, implemented locally in 10 different FAIRWAY case studies, was collected and analysed. The measures were aggregated by type and the average/overall scores for effectivity, cost, applicability, and adoptability were assessed from the individual records and comments. See »Management practices that reduce nitrate transport - Results and discussion - Case studies.

Similarly, information about 17 different pesticide mitigation measures, implemented locally in 7 different FAIRWAY case studies, was collected and analysed. The measures were evaluated for their cost and effectiveness for reducing pollution of groundwater and surface water. See »Management practices that reduce pesticide transport - Results - Case studies

 


Note: For full references to papers quoted in this article see

» References