What impact can pesticide runoff have on water sources?

Pesticide runoff can contaminate surface or underground water when chemicals used in pest control products are washed away by rain or irrigation practices. When these pesticides enter water bodies, they can lead to harmful concentrations that affect aquatic ecosystems, drinking water supplies, and overall water quality. This contamination can have severe ecological consequences, including harm to fish and other aquatic organisms, disruption of food chains, and impacts on human health if contaminated water is consumed or used for irrigation.

Water quality degradation from pesticide runoff can also make it more difficult and costly to treat water for safe drinking purposes, thereby affecting communities reliant on those water sources. Understanding the detrimental effects of pesticide runoff is crucial for agricultural practices and environmental protection efforts.