Pesticide Water Quality Program

Formerly called the Groundwater Program, the Pesticide Water Quality Program is focused on protecting groundwater and surface water from pesticide contamination.  In its role as the lead pesticide regulatory agency in the state, the North Dakota Department of Agriculture works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and partner state and federal agencies to assess and mitigate the risk of pesticides to the state’s water resources.

A working committee was formed in 1991 to assist the Department in developing an EPA approved Generic State Management Plan (GSMP) to protect groundwater from pesticides. This plan outlined a strategy to prevent degradation of groundwater by pesticides while protecting the beneficial uses of pesticide products. It is designed to protect groundwater quality, encourage pesticide user education, and provide technical assistance.

Due to recent expansion of the Groundwater Program to include surface water, the groundwater working committee was expanded in 2007 and renamed the Water Quality Advisory Committee (WQAC).  The WQAC includes several state and federal agencies with an interest in water resources, including the North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota State Water Commission, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, North Dakota Geological Survey, NDSU Extension Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey.  The Committee meets quarterly to discuss and manage pesticide water quality issues.

The Department uses several strategies to protect water resources from pesticides.  We educate the public and conduct outreach during public meetings, participation in pesticide certification and training programs, and distribution of informational materials.  We work with the ND Department of Health to review groundwater monitoring data, and we recently coordinated a statewide pesticide surface water monitoring program with the ND Department of Health and ND Game and Fish Department. Last, we target pesticide regulatory activities and inspections in those areas of the state with waters that are vulnerable to pesticide contamination.

Additional links on water quality protection can be found by clicking on the following links:

Pesticide Monitoring Report 2009

Pesticide Monitoring Report 2008

State Generic Management Plan

Protecting Ground and Surface Water

North Dakota Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping

North Dakota Department of Health Division of Water Quality

For more information, contact:

Jessica Johnson
ND Department of Agriculture
600 E Boulevard Dept 602
Bismarck ND 58505-0020
Phone: (701) 328-2980
FAX: (701) 328-4567
Email:jnjohnson@nd.gov