Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application - Handling

Table of Contents

1. Best Management Practices for Mixing/Loading
2. Preventative Maintenance
3. How to Prevent Backflow to Water Supply
4. Water Tanks
5. Gaps
6. Anti-Backflow Device
7. Closed Mixing Systems (CMS)
8. How to Decontaminate Application Equipment
9. Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application

Best Management Practices for Mixing/Loading

Effective mixing and loading systems require the best choices for facilities, equipment, and management practices.

Preventative Maintenance

Regularly inspect structures and equipment for wear and tear:

• check floor surfaces, valves, pumps, and seals
• repair structures and equipment as needed
• repair cracks in concrete by routing and sealing, injecting epoxy materials or other means.

Maintain drainage by keeping vegetation mowed and rodents away.

Clean up area to prevent buildup of pesticides.

Clean sumps to prevent corrosion and pump problems.

Prevent concrete deterioration by inspection and application of protective coatings.

How to Prevent Backflow to Water Supply

An accidental spill or backsiphoning of a chemical into your well or surface water can severely impair water quality (drinking, etc.,) and may take an extended period of time to rectify. Immediate health problems can result. The effects of repeated exposure to these low levels of pesticides are unknown, but may produce health problems many years after the exposure. Pesticide contaminants can also cause health problems for livestock and wildlife. Pesticide-contaminated water sources are unfit for irrigation.

Figure 1. This one-way valve attached at the faucet will prevent draining back to the water source.

There are three ways to prevent backflow into wells: use water tanks for storage, maintain gaps between the hose and top of sprayer tank, and install an anti-backflow device.

Water Tanks

Permanent, separate water tanks can be furnished in the storage/mixing/loading area.

Portable water storage tanks can be taken to application sites.

In both cases, water is pumped to them - eliminating all contact of pesticides with source.

Gaps

A 15 centimetre air gap between the hose and the top of the sprayer tank will allow tank filling, and eliminate the possibility of the filled tank (water or mixture) from draining back to the water source.

Anti-Backflow Device

Devices such as check valves should be attached to any faucet that provides water to storage and handling systems.

The one-way valve prevents liquids from flowing back through the faucet and into the well.

Closed Mixing Systems (CMS)

A CMS reduces the need for full protection equipment, and will help prevent backflow to water sources.

A CMS means you can mix and load pesticide solutions without exposure to pesticide materials.

It uses a vacuum to move materials through the system.

In a typical mechanical pump-type system, pesticides and water are drawn by the pump, through a metering system to the spray tank. From there, the mixture is pumped to the sprayer.

This diagram shows a closed mixing system (CMS). A CMS allows producers to mix and load pesticides without being exposed to them.

Figure 2. Closed mixing system (CMS): check valve, mix or spray tank, meter, pump, pesticide container. Source: Designing facilities for pesticide and fertilizer containment, Mid-West Plan Service-37

The pesticide is removed from a closed container. Empty containers can be triple-rinsed and rinsate added to the mix for application.

Monitoring systems can improve accuracy in pesticide measurement.

How to Decontaminate Application Equipment

It's important to decontaminate spray tanks and booms when pesticide changes are being made.

Wear the same safety equipment (gloves, apron, etc.) as you would for mixing and loading.

We know that some chemicals such as the hormone-type herbicides - even in minute amounts - are injurious to many plants. We also know that some new herbicide chemistry is extremely active in very minute amounts.

Check with your chemical supplier arid read the label for warnings and specific directions regarding the best procedure for decontaminating application equipment. If the equipment must be used for application of other chemicals, the following methods for cleaning are suggested.

The best sites for cleanouts are permanent mixing/loading pads followed by application to target crop at approximately 1% of the application rate. (Most tank mixes have a 10% concentration. Dilute water:rinsate @ 10:1 ratio to give 1% application rate.)

The next best is in the field where rinsate is applied at approximately 1% solution directly to target crop or headlands where you're working. Provided you never use the same spot twice, no significant pesticide accumulations should occur.

Available in Published Version of Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application

Best Management Practices for Mixing/Loading

• How to Avoid Spills and Handling Risks - checklist
• Safety Checklist
• Decontaminating Application Equipment

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