On-farm bio remediation (biobed) systems to limit point source pesticide pollution from sprayer mixing and washdown areas

摘要

Crop sprayer loading areas represent significant potential pollution sources. Specifically designed bioremediation systems allowing water and residues to infiltrate into a substrate where opportunities exist for pesticide retention and/or degradationwere constructed for commercial use in the UK. Three different crop sprayer loading and washdown areas linked to bioremedialion systems were monitored. Two lypes of biobed and one soil based system were included. The quality of water entering and leavingthese systems was determined. Close management of the water within these systems was critical to their pesticide removal efficiency. In addition to commercial use artificial applications of pesticides were made to the systems to simulate worst-case conlamination incidents. Pesticide concentrations entering the systems exceeded 100,000 mu g/L. All three bioremediation systems retained an extremely effective pesticide removal performance with pesticide concentrations in the leachate generally remainingbelow 0.5 mu g/L. Design, installation and management issues are discussed with the aim of maintaining bioremediation efficiency.