Editor

As the global effort to protect our planet from environmental issues like the climate crisis, deforestation and pollution has never been stronger, in Wales we can look closer to home to understand how we can play our part in protecting our environment.

Wales’ network of rivers and reservoirs form precious sources of water that allow colleagues at D?r Cymru Welsh Water to provide 828 million litres of water to over 3 million people living and working in Wales as well as some adjoining parts of England.

However recent analysis through our routine water monitoring programme has detected increasing traces of pesticides in some areas across Wales where they weren’t previously found.While these levels are too low to pose a risk to those drinking the water, they are enough to risk breaching rigorous drinking water standards.

It is our job to safeguard our drinking water sources, but we can’t do it without the support of every citizen in Wales. And while we know that pesticides, like weed-killers, can form an essential role in everyday life, if they’re stored, used or disposed of incorrectly, they can be harmful to people, water and wildlife.

Welsh Water has launched a website, www.PestSmart.wales or www.PestSmart.cymru to inform people across Wales about how to use pesticides safely and consider a different approach.We’re calling on everyone to consider using natural alternatives to pesticides, with ideas and eco-friendly solutions available on the Pest Smart website.

By safeguarding and improving water quality before it gets to our water treatment works, we can avoid using additional chemicals and energy to get Wales’ drinking water perfect. Working together to reduce reliance on pesticides helps us to keep bills low and protects the environment for generations to come.

Phillippa Pearson,Head of Water Services Science at D?r Cymru Welsh Water.

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