Pesticides and Melbourne’s Drinking Water: New Report Released

Friends of the Earth (FoE) has released a new report investigating risks associated with pesticides in Melbourne’s drinking water. The report focuses on Sugarloaf Reservoir, Melbourne’s only reservoir that is supplied from the Yarra River, downstream of one of Australia’s most intensively farmed (and sprayed) regions. The report found that since 2008 Melbourne Water have recorded 31 positive pesticide samples, with the herbicides Atrazine and Simazine both being detected above European Guideline levels and levels which have been determined to impact on hormones.