Groundwater and wetlands contamination with pesticides and nutrients from farms in Victoria, Australia

Abstract Intensive farming in regions like the Glenelg Hopkins, Victoria, Australia, leads to substantial usage of pesticides and nutrients, posing the risk of agrochemical pollution to groundwater and wetlands. This study estimates the extent of pollution in aquifers and wetlands in the agricultural region. Tests were conducted for triazines (atrazine, hexazinone, metribuzin, prometrym, simazine, desisopropyl-atrazine, and desethyl-atrazine), nitrogen and phosphorus in 23 groundwater monitoring bores susceptible to agricultural pollution and ten nearby wetlands. Results indicated that one bore exhibited elevated pesticide levels, with a total concentration of 19.43 µg/L. Nitrogen and phosphorus were detected in most groundwater bores with concentrations below 51.6 mg/L and 0.30 mg/L, respectively. Compound Atrazine was found in three wetlands below 0.064 µg/L, while simazine was detected in four wetlands below 1.2 µg/L. The study suggests that although low pesticide levels were observed in wetlands, nutrient contamination is prevalent in the aquifer at the study site. Further investigation is necessary to comprehend the impacts of pesticides and nutrients on groundwater and wetland ecosystems. These findings emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring and research to mitigate the adverse effects of intensive agricultural practices on groundwater and wetlands, thus, holding significant implications for policymakers and researchers.