Raw water database Water supply Plant protection products

Logo of the round table of water supply companies and maufacturers of plant production products

The raw water database is used to collect data from water supply companies on the occurrence of  plant protection products and their metabolites. On the basis of these data, which are treated confidentially and used anonymously, the raw water database provides an overview of the qualitative status of the water resources under consideration with regard to these parameter groups. In case of anomalies, coordinated measures and recommendations for action can be initiated on a local level to counteract contamination of the raw water used by the water supplier.

The decision-making committee for the operation of the raw water database (RWDB PSM) and the evaluation of the data is the advisory board consisting of representatives of the water industry (BDEW, DVGW, water supply companies) and the manufacturers of plant protection products (IVA). After evaluation of the findings in the raw water database and with the consent of the water suppliers concerned, it selects drinking water catchment areas that are contaminated with a currently approved plant protection product active substance or a metabolite of an approved active substance. In these areas, measures to reduce this contamination are initiated and implemented.

The measures are developed and implemented jointly by the affected water suppliers, manufacturers of plant protection products and the agricultural sector according to a concept approved by the advisory board of the raw water database. The measures proposed in the concept include intensified monitoring, intensification of agricultural advice in the catchment area, area-specific minimization concepts and restriction of product applications. These will be applied depending on the catchment-specific conditions in the polluted catchment areas.

Through the cooperation of manufacturers of plant protection products and water suppliers, it has been possible to provide a flexible instrument for the protection of drinking water resources that can be used to reduce the hazards of plant protection products and their metabolites. On this basis, it has already been possible to successfully reduce the contamination of raw water with the above-mentioned substances in individual areas.

Broschures

The brochure "PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN A NUTSHELL", which describes the results of a cooperation between water utilities and manufacturers of plant protection products to protect drinking water resources, can be downloaded below.

The brochure contains the RWDB PSM evaluations based on the analysis results provided in 2019 and case studies of affected water suppliers. Points of view and experiences of the partners of this round table and their common goals for the future are highlighted. An abstract is available in the form of a flyer.

Broschure "PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN A NUTSHELL"
(long version, pdf-file, 4 MB)

Flyer "PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN A NUTSHELL"
(short version, pdf-file, 400 KB)

The current analysis of the Raw Water Database, including the latest results from 2022, is described below in the brochure entitled “RAW WATER DATABASE OF PLANT PPROTECTION PRODUCTS – 2022 ANALYSIS”. The brochure is available for download here.

Publications

BDEW, DVGW, IVA, VKU (2009): Gemeinsam die Zukunft sichern. Vereinbarung zur Zusam­menarbeit von Wasserversorgung und Agrarchemie in Deutschland. Berlin, 22. Januar 2009.

Fischer, T. Kiefer, J. (2012): Die Rohwasserdatenbank Wasserversorgung als Instrument für den Ressourcenschutz. Veröffentlichungen aus dem Technologiezentrum Wasser 55, ISSN 1434-5765, 17-36.

Dechet F. (2014): 5 Jahre Runder Tisch „Wasserwirtschaft und Pflanzenschutzmittelherstel­ler“– Eine erste Bilanz. GEWÄSSERSCHUTZ - WASSER – ABWASSER, Tagungsband 47. Aachener Wassertage, Aachen 2014, ISBN 978-3-938996-40-9.

Castell-Exner, C.; Dechet, F.; Danowski, A.; Steinbach, N. (2016): Information zur Rohwasserdatenbank „Pflanzenschutzmittel“. DVGW energie | wasser-praxis, 46–51.

Castell-Exner, C.; Dechet, F.; Danowski, A.; Steinbach, N. (2017): Informationsschrift Nr. 2 - Die Rohwasserdatenbank „Pflanzenschutzmittel“. DVGW energie I wasser-praxis, 74–79.

Castell-Exner C, Danowski A, Dechet F, Steinbach N, Bauer F, Fischer T, Haakh F, Kiefer J, Laabs V, Penning M, Peterwitz U, Reitz M, Rentsch S, Resseler H, Schmidt C, Sur R, Winter M (2020): Plant Protection Products in a nutshell. Cooperation to protect drinking water resources: Viewpoints, experiences, measurement results – solutions and goals for the future. BDEW, DVGW, IVA & VKU. Berlin, Bonn and Frankfurt/M., Dezember 2020.

Castell-Exner C., Danowski A., Bauer F., Fischer T., Haakh F., Laabs V., Penning M., Phelan A., Peters G., Harms S., Resseler H., Schmidt C., Sturm S., Sur R., Winter M. (2023): Raw Water Database of Plant Protection Products - 2022 Analysis. BDEW, DVGW & IVA. Berlin, Bonn and Frankfurt (Main), 2023

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