2005 July - 2014 July: Rubicon River (Tas). Australia's highest reading for MCPA Jan 14 2014.

RUBICON RIVER AT TIDAL LIMIT (#17200)

26/9/05: Atrazine (logging coupe) 0.08ug/L, Simazine 0.02ug/L. Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

28/9/05: Atrazine (logging coupe) 0.13ug/L. Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

12/10/05: Atrazine 0.7ug/L, 6.50ug/L. Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

24/7/06: Atrazine 0.14ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

25/7/06: Simazine 0.18ug/L, 2,4-D 0.67ug/L

15/7/08: 2,4-D 1.07ug/L, MCPA 0.1ug/L

25/8/06: Simazine 0.19ug/L, 0.22ug/L, 0.36ug/L, 1.13ug/L, 0.26ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

14/9/06: Simazine 0.09ug/L, 0.12ug/L, 0.29ug/L, 0.14ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

21/9/06: Simazine 0.06ug/L, 0.08ug/L, 0.05ug/L, 0.94ug/L, 0.66ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

28/9/06: Simazine 0.1ug/L, 0.22ug/L, 1.04ug/L, 0.26 ug/L. Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

5/10/06: Simazine 0.19ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

19/10/06: Simazine 0.09, 0.14ug/L Source: Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways. FoI Tim Morris MP 28/2/08

14/1/10: Atrazine Trace

4/11/10: MCPA 0.31ug/L

12/4/11: Hexazinone 0.09ug/L

3/11/11: MCPA 0.98ug/L, Prometryn Trace

7/11/12: MCPA Trace

2/7/13: 2,4-D 0.09ug/L

14/1/14: MCPA 19.1ug/L, Metsulfuron Methyl 0.38ug/L, Contains Triclopyr @ 0.69ug/L

6/5/14: 2,4-D 0.54ug/L

8/7/14: 2,4-D 0.47ug/L

Source: Pesticide Water Monitoring Program - Routine Monitoring Results (Tas Govt)

https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Baseline%20Monitoring%20Program.pdf

By way of example of the investigative process, in June 2005 a pesticide was found in a river

water sample in the north west of the state. The detection of atrazineabove the ADWG guideline value in the Rubicon River, at its tidal limit, in a random routine grab sample was reported and investigated by DPIWE. This showed that aerial spraying of a forestry coupe 10kms away was the likely source. Spraying had been found to have been carried out correctly according to the Code ofPractice of Aerial Spraying with appropriate buffer zones around waterways. The Registrar of Chemical Products (Tasmania) stated that no action was therefore deemed necessary. A repeat grab sample of water from the Rubicon in Sept

2005 was reported by DPIWE as finding no atrazine.

This is an admission by a government representative that government regulations and controls do not prevent pesticide contamination of our waterways and drinking water sources. Even when the level of pesticide found was above the guidelinevalue, no indication was given as to how the contamination would cease. Sampling continues quarterly yet there is no water management plan in place for the Rubicon to identify and review catchment issues which impact on water quality and quantity.

https://www.sourcewatch.org/images/a/a0/Community_Audit_GR_23-4-2007.pdf