Safeguarding our precious water resources is a key priority, as well as the focus of an expanding range of policy initiatives by regulators and environmental agencies. Earlier this year, the Environment Agency published its River Basin Management Plans. These detail what is needed regionally over the next five years to satisfy the European Water Framework Directive - the over-arching legislation that aims to protect and enhance the quality of our water.

The plans consider all aspects of water protection and supply and, where appropriate, identify particular pesticide problems.The biggest challenge for pesticide users is the EU Drinking Water Standard, which requires water companies to supply water in which residues do not exceed 0.1µg/l of any one pesticide, regardless of its toxicity.

Effective industry stewardship has a crucial role to play in meeting these stringent requirements. The Crop Protection Association (CPA) is firmly committed to conserving water quality.We have been promoting water protection throughout the agricultural and horticultural sectors for more than 10 years, with some remarkable successes and innovative solutions.

Work in the Voluntary Initiative pilot catchments has shown that pesticide levels in water can be reduced by 40-80 per cent.Sometimes there is a quick fix such as relocating a pesticide-handling area, but more often small changes involving all the growers in a catchment are needed. All aspects of pesticide use need to be considered, including design of sprayer filling areas to awareness of weather and soil conditions, along with applying the right product in the right way, at the right time.The role of advisers in helping communicate innovation has been vital.

This success is being incorporated into other initiatives aimed at protecting the environment.For instance, CPA and its H2OK? Keep it Clean campaign is now working closely with the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative, the government’s national pesticide action plan and a new partnership with the Environment Agency.

Recent CPA activities include training events for pesticide instructors, a UK-wide recommendation to sow six-metre wide grass buffer strips between oilseed rape crops and watercourses, a water protection poster for livestock farms and regular best practice columns in the farming press.

Fortunately, water treatment facilities can remove most pesticides if a problem occurs, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate is satisfied that even when the standard is occasionally breached, there is no risk to human health.

However, keeping pesticides out of water remains a top priority. Pesticides are vital to protect crops and food production. Achieving global food security depends, in part, on their continued use.So introducing a ban on pesticides found in water is not the way forward.Instead, the crop protection industry, farmers, water industries and regulators must continue to promote best practice and look for innovative solutions.

Patrick Goldsworthy is the CPA’s water protection consultant and Voluntary Initiative manager