Pesticide contamination of water sources and the monitoring data across the EU

The extent to which approved pesticides contaminate surface and groundwater sources depends on the properties of the formulated pesticide, the applica tion, mode of use, the characteristics of the intended target and the appli cation area. Data are now generally available to characterise the pathways of contamination but further information is still required on the relative importance of the different sources and also for a wider range of scenarios (agricultural and climatic) across Europe. The sampling and analysis of wa ter resources to characterise contamination from pesticides has not been co -ordinated at the EU or the national level and as a consequence it is diffi cult to determine the extent to which pesticides exceed water quality stand ards and cause an impact on non-target species. It is now recognised within the EU that monitoring strategies must be reviewed in order to assess the success of relevant agricultural and environmental legislation. The proposa l for a Water Framework Directive to monitor water quality at the catchment level provides an opportunity for comprehensive monitoring of the pathways and impact of pesticides.