The Tasmanian Government has released the results from the state’s latest round of chemical testing of Tasmania’s rivers and streams.

 

The head of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Chemical Management Branch, Christian Goninon, said the samples were collected from 47 locations across Tasmania during May 2012.

 

The DPI tested the water sources for the presence of a range of agricultural chemicals, finding that 43 sites were clear of all pesticides. However, four sites tested positive to several different pesticides. Including:

 

Montagu River at Renison Road

  • MCPA at 0.29ppb – a pesticide used to control weeds in pasture

Montagu River at Stuarts Road

  • Simazine at 0.35ppb – a herbicide used to control germinating grasses in both forestry and agriculture

Clyde River at Bothwell

  • MCPA at 0.40ppb
  • 2,4-D at 0.15ppb – a herbicide used to control flat weeds in pasture and cereal crops

Tuckers Creek at Barnbougle Road

  • Prometryn at 0.07ppb -  a herbicide used to control both broad leafed weeds and grasses in a range of agricultural crops.  

 

Results for all 32 rounds of testing are available on the DPIPWE website at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au