Pesticide occurrence and spatio-temporal variability in urban run-off across Australia

Megan A Rippy; Ana Deletic; Jeff Black; Rupak Aryal; Jane-Louise Lampard; Janet Yat-Man Tang; David McCarthy; Peter Kolotelo; Jatinder Sidhu; Wolfgang Gernjak

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.010

Pesticide occurrence and spatio-temporal variability in urban run-off across Australia

Water Res. 2017 May 15:115:245-255. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.010. Epub 2017 Mar 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Henry Samulei School of Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States.
² Monash Infrastructure, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
³ Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; The University of Queensland, Advanced Water Management Centre, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
⁴ The University of Queensland, Advanced Water Management Centre, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; University of South Australia, Centre for Water Management and Reuse, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.
⁵ Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; School of Health and Sports Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia; School of Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
⁶ Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (Entox), Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
⁷ CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia.
⁸ Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia; The University of Queensland, Advanced Water Management Centre, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003, Girona, Spain. Electronic address: wgernjak@icra.cat.

PMID: 28284091
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.010

Abstract

Stormwater is a major driving factor of aquatic ecosystem degradation as well as one of the largest untapped urban freshwater resources. We present results from a long-term, multi-catchment study of urban stormwater pesticides across Australia that addresses this dichotomous identity (threat and resource), as well as dominant spatial and temporal patterns in stormwater pesticide composition. Of the 27 pesticides monitored, only 19 were detected in Australian stormwater, five of which (diuron, MCPA, 2,4-D, simazine, and triclopyr) were found in >50% of samples. Overall, stormwater pesticide concentrations were lower than reported in other countries (including the United States, Canada and Europe), and exceedances of public health and aquatic ecosystem standards were rare (<10% of samples). Spatio-temporal patterns were investigated with principal component analysis. Although stormwater pesticide composition was relatively stable across seasons and years, it varied significantly by catchment. Common pesticide associations appear to reflect 1) user application of common registered formulations containing characteristic suites of active ingredients, and 2) pesticide fate properties (e.g., environmental mobility and persistence). Importantly, catchment-specific occurrence patterns provide opportunities for focusing treatment approaches or stormwater harvesting strategies.

Keywords: Alternative water source; Pesticide; Principal component analysis; Spatio-temporal pattern; Stormwater management; Urban runoff.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Environmental Monitoring*
Fresh Water
Pesticides
Rain
Water Pollutants, Chemical*

Substances

Pesticides
Water Pollutants, Chemical