Pesticides in Alberta Treated Water Supplies

Gary Byrtus, Alberta Environment
Edmonton, Alberta

Abstract

Alberta Environment conducts a monitoring program to assess the quality of treated water supplies in Alberta municipalities. A wide range of parameters are analyzed for (routine inorganics, metals, priority pollutants and pesticides). This presentation is a summary of the pesticide monitoring results (over 1500 samples) for the period 1995-2001. Samples were analyzed at ARC, Vegreville on a GC/MS (Varian Saturn 3 IonTrap) for between 32 and 40 compounds. 2,4-D and MCPA were the most commonly detected pesticides (>10% of samples), with MCPP, clopyralid, picloram and dicamba also commonly found (>2.5% of samples). A total of 18 different pesticides were detected over the seven years. No drinking water guidelines were exceeded for any of the pesticides detected.