Proper handling, use, and disposal of these important and beneficial products is critical for preventing adverse impacts on water resources and aquatic habitats. In order to provide larger harvests of affordable foods, farmers often supply crops with proper nutrients (fertilizers) and protect them from pests by applying pesticides. In maintaining their landscapes, homeowners tend to use proportionately more fertilizers and pesticides than do farmers and frequently have less training in proper application methods. Human and animal health problems can occur through excessive exposure to landscape and farm chemicals. Environmental pollution can occur when these chemicals enter waterways and groundwater systems. Nutrients and pesticides can enter surface and ground waters through misapplication, movement of treated soils, return irrigation flows, runoff from agricultural fields, stormwater runoff, and leaching through soils. Groundwater contamination from pesticides and nutrients is a difficult long-term issue due to the impracticality of cleansing groundwater aquifers. Agricultural producers and homeowners should employ methods to assure proper application of chemicals to minimize potential exposure to people, animals, and the environment.

The PNW Regional Water Quality Program provides many research-based educational materials on soils, plant choices, irrigation management techniques, proper fertilizer and pesticide use, and a range of other related topics. View an HTML version of the flyer here, or download the 11x17 PDF flyer here, or download the 4-page PDF version here.