What precautions should you take to protect the water supply when mixing and loading?

• A. Always fill pesticide equipment away from surface waters, wells, and during cleaning to prevent contamination.
• B. You cannot fill pesticide equipment adjacent to surface waters or wells where contamination could occur, and this also applies when cleaning application equipment.
• C. Fill near surface waters to monitor possible runoff.
• D. Rinse water can be dumped into streams after filling.

Answer: (B)

Protecting the water supply during mixing and loading means keeping these activities away from surface waters and wells and making sure any rinse or wash water is contained and disposed of properly. Spill or runoff from mixing and loading can carry pesticide residues into streams, lakes, or groundwater, so the safest practice is to avoid performing these tasks next to water sources and to treat cleaning as part of the containment plan. The option that says you cannot fill pesticide equipment adjacent to surface waters or wells where contamination could occur, and that this also applies when cleaning application equipment, captures this precaution accurately and consistently with how rinse water must be handled. Rinsing or spills dumped into streams is not allowed, and filling near water bodies to “monitor” runoff is not protective because it increases the risk of contamination. So the emphasis is on staying away from water sources during mixing and loading and on keeping all wash water contained and properly disposed.