Pollution des eaux superficielles par les produits phytosanitaires : de la recherche appliquée aux premiers résultats sur les bassins du programme Bretagne Eau Pure

Surface water pollution by pesticides: from applied research to the first results on Bretagne Eau Pure program basins

Direction Régionale de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt de Bretagne, Service Régional de la Protection des Végétaux

Abstract

In Brittany, the reconquest of water quality represents a major challenge for which political and economical managers join their efforts and particularly within the Bretagne Eau Pure program that sets every effort to initiate this reconquest, notably concerning pesticides, within 5 years.

Locally, the approach to such a form of pollution was made originally with the creation by the Region Prefect at the end of 1990 of a consultation and interdisciplinary coordination Cell taken in charge by the DRAF.

The applied research studies achieved for several years within this Cell enabled us to make a first diagnostic and to determine orientations in order to take action in the Bretagne Eau Pure program basins where the objectives of reconquest of the rivers' water quality corresponding to statutory concentrations in alimentation waters, had been set up.

An action method based on the adaptation of different ways of weeding, taking into account the risk assigned to the fields and zones that have to be weeded, has been developed in order to reach these objectives. The application of this procedure has already provided some first encouraging results towards water quality improvement.