Sub-sewershed Monitoring to Elucidate Down-the-Drain Pesticide Sources

Pesticides have been reported in treated wastewater efIluent at concentrations that exceed aquatic toxicity thresholds, indicating that treatment may be insufficient to adequately address potential pesticide impacts on aquatic life. Gaining a better understanding of the relative contribution from specific use patterns, transport pathways, and flow characteristics is an essential first step to informing source control measures. The results of this study are the first of their kind, reporting pesticide concentrations at sub-sewershed sites within a single sewer catchment to provide information on the relative contribution from various urban sources. Seven monitoring events were collected from influent, efIluent, and seven sub-sewershed sites to capture seasonal variability. In addition, samples were collected from sites with the potential for relatively large mass fluxes of pesticides (pet grooming operations, pest control operators, and laundromats). Fipronil and imidacloprid were detected in most samples (>70%). Pyrethroids were detected in >50% of all influent and lateral samples. There were significant removals of pyrethroids from the aqueous process stream within the facility to below reporting limits. Imidacloprid and fiproles were the only pesticides that were detected above reporting limits in efIluent, highlighting the importance of source identification and control for the more hydrophilic compounds. Single source monitoring revealed large contributions of fipronil, imidacloprid, and permethrin originating from a pet groomer, with elevated levels of cypermethrin at a commercial laundry location. The results provide important information needed to prioritize future monitoring efforts, calibrate down-the-drain models, and identify potential mitigation strategies at the site of pesticide use to prevent introduction to sewersheds.

Automated summary

Pesticides were found in treated wastewater effluent at concentrations exceeding aquatic toxicity thresholds, suggesting that current treatment methods may not adequately address their impact on aquatic life. This study provides the first report of pesticide concentrations in sub-sewershed sites within a single sewer catchment, offering insights into the contribution from various urban sources. Significant removal of pyrethroids was observed within the treatment facility, while imidacloprid and fiproles were the only pesticides detected above reporting limits in effluent, highlighting the need for source identification and control. Single source monitoring identified pet groomers as a major contributor of certain pesticides, emphasizing the importance of implementing mitigation strategies at pesticide use sites to prevent their introduction into sewersheds.